Unit 2

We believe in the Holy Spirit

Pentecost• 50 days after the Resurrection, God came

down to the disciples in the form of the Holy Spirit.

• The coming of the Holy Spirit made it possible for the disciples to respond to and share the full wonder of the resurrection in everyone’s native language.

• It was the beginning of Christianity.

Pentecost

• Long before Pentecost became a Christian feast, it was a Jewish feast.

• Pentecost was a harvest festival that was celebrated fifty days after Passover.

• “Pentecost” = “fiftieth day.”• People from towns and villages would

travel together to Jerusalem to offer the first-fruits of the wheat harvest in the Temple and to give thanks to God.

The Trinity• God relates to us as three distinct persons in

three different ways.– God the Father– God the Son (Jesus)– God the Holy Spirit

The Trinity• Central to our faith is the belief

that there is only one God. • The three persons of the Trinity

are one God. • Whatever one does, God does.

Whenever one is present, God is present.

• The Trinity reveals God’s nature as always relating in love.

HOLY SPIRIT• God in spirit form (part of the Holy Trinity)• The Holy Spirit is present as your helper!• Helps us to deal with changing expectations,

and helps us to change our expectations to be more in line with the teaching of Jesus.

• The Holy Spirit also helps us to recognize God and to believe!

• Most importantly, the Holy Spirit helps us to be disciples of Jesus.

• God reveals God’s self in many different ways. Christians have learned to expect to see, find and know God in the person of Jesus, in the “Law,” and in the ‘community of believers’.

Community of believers: People who believe that Christ is the Messiah and who believe in God

“Law”: The Scriptures/Bible and the teaching of the Church

Gifts of the Holy Spirit• These are gifts from God that are given to

help us do God’s will• These gifts sum up the ways God helps

relate to each other, to the world and to God.

• We are called to use the gifts we know we have and to develop the rest

• Not everyone may be using every gift, but every gift is present in every person who works with the Holy Spirit.

Understanding

Understanding• Seeing why things are the way they are• Seeing what needs to be done and responding the

way God wants you to respond

An understanding person knows when someone needs help and is quick to offer help; knows when to

help by doing something and when to just listen; makes time for people and makes sacrifices for the

needs of others

Wisdom

Wisdom• Seeing how God wants things to be• Knowing what needs to be done or said to help

God’s plan happen• Being able to see the effects of various actions

A wise person knows what is really important and what is not

Counsel (Right

Judgment)

Counsel (Right Judgment)• Helping change things to the way they should be• Making good judgments and giving good advice

A person with the gift of counsel says what is needed to change things from bad to good. A person with this gift

knows how to lead others in doing what is right and good and can listen for and hear the truth even when it

is hidden.

Knowledge

Knowledge• Being aware of the world God has created• Understanding how things work and fit together

A person with the gift of knowledge is not easily fooled, is good as solving problems

and can give the facts others need to make a good decision

Fortitude(Courage)

Fortitude (Courage)• Having courage and being able to keep going even when things get really hard

A person with fortitude does not give up easily. They do what is

needed even if it’s hard, painful or scary.

Piety(Reverence)

Piety (Reverence)

•Loyalty and faithfulness to God

•Changing our behavior because of our faith

•Praying and trusting in prayer

People with the gift of piety put their faith into action. They find time to pray for themselves and for others and serve others in the name of Jesus. They do not lose their faith in hard times. They are not usually weighed down by doubt, despair, or anxiety. They find joy and strength in God.

Fear of the Lord

(Wonder & Awe)

Fear of the Lord (Wonder & Awe)• Knowing that God (and only God) deserves our absolute trust and commitment• Believing that God’s plan is much bigger than anything we can see, and that He is working for good.• Believing that God is infinitely wiser, more loving, and more powerful than we are

A person with the gift of fear of the Lord stands in awe before God and does not forget to worship God. Such a person is not ashamed to ask humbly for God’s help and will admit that only God has a right to do, decide, or control certain things. A person like this puts God first.

When we have the gift of the Holy Spirit, they help us to know and do what God

wants us to do.

The fruits of the Holy Spirit• Love: We exhibit the virtue of charity, or love, by our

unselfish devotion and care for God and our neighbor.• Joy: We live with joy when we recognize that true

happiness comes, not from money or possessions, but from knowing and following Christ.

• Peace: We are freed from worrying about trivial things because of the inner peace we experience with God in our hearts. We work and pray for peace throughout the world.

• Patience: We demonstrate patience by treating others with thoughtfulness and tolerance. We know that we can overcome the temptations and sufferings of life because God is always with us.

• Kindness: We live the virtue of kindness by treating others as we want to be treated.

• Generosity: We demonstrate the fruit of generosity when we are share our gifts and possessions with others.

• Gentleness: Gentle people act calmly and avoid actions that might lead others to anger or resentment.

• Faithfulness: We are faithful when we live out our commitment to the teachings of Jesus, the Scriptures, and the Catholic Church.

• Self-control: We exercise self-control by working to overcome the temptations we face and by trying always to do God’s will.

Answer your question, using the following sentence fragment:

I will show/share (fruit) by (answer) because (fruit) is present when (definition).

Solidarity• Is being able to see other people’s needs just as

important as our own needs. It means “being as one.”

• We live in solidarity with others when:– we see their needs as our own needs and their hopes as

our hopes. – we realize that helping them make their dreams come

true is as important to us as making our own dreams come true.

– we act in ways that show that their successes are our successes and our successes are their successes.

Remember: The Trinity?• God relates to us as three distinct persons in

three different ways.– God the Father– God the Son (Jesus)– God the Holy Spirit

The Trinity is the perfect model of solidarity.

• The Trinity calls us to live in solidarity with each other!

• The Trinity also reminds us that life lived in solidarity with others is life lived God’s way.

• Our relationships can bring God to others if we let them.

When our relationships are built on solidarity instead of power, they reflect the Trinity

and God is present.

Discernment• Calling on the Holy Spirit to lead or give

direction about your vocation.