PENTECOST (The Holy Sprit Empowers Us)
Empowerment is one of the 'in words nowadays. And with good reason. We have seen individuals or groups of people who initially felt powerless to change their situation, suddenly became able to do so when someone emporwered them. We have seen what a good motivator can do for a football team. players who had been lacking in self belief, begin to believe in themselves and play way above their normal selves.
When people are empowered they become able and willing to take charge of their situation. They no longer wait for someone else to do it for them.. They accept that they and they alone have to do something about it.
The Holy Spirit empowered the apostles. He came down on them in the form of wind and fire. Wind and fire (heat) are symbols of power. Wind has the power to move, to uproot, fire has the power to refine and transform.
The power they symbolise here is the power of God. Here they symbolise the presence and action of God- The coming of the Spirit provided the apostles with the energy, the momentum, the enthusiasm, the courage, the love and the passion to get on with the task Christ had given them. The holy spirit would help them, but he wouldn't do it for them.
However we mustn't think that the change in them came about in an instant. It had to be a gradual thing. It had to be a growth process. And growth can be slow and painful. we do not easily let go of olds ways, old habits and old attitudes.
People change when they are given hope; when someone believes in them and gives them a task to do; when someone takes an interest in them. Above all, they change when they are loved. They come out of their shells, and hidden energies are released in them. The miracle of human change is the only real miracle.
We to need someone to empower us so that we are able to take charge of ourlives, and live them responsibly. This means being willing to change what needs to be changed. But we especially need empowerment in order to witness our Christian faith. The power that changed the apostles is available to us too. The Holy Spirit energises and strengthens our spirits and warms and purifies our hearts.
Day for Life
What is Day for Life?
The Church has a conststent and clear message on the sacredness of human life. Day for Life is our annual celebration of this message. "Its primary purpose is to foster in individual consciencesm in families, in the Church and in civil society a recognition of the meaning and value of human life at every single stage and in every condition EV 85
The Church has a great deal of experience in all areas of promotion and defending human life and has given the world a lead in the intellectual, political and social battle to save and protect life from conception to natural death.
Why does the Church oppose abortion?
The Church believes that every life has been created by God in his own image and likeness and that all life is scared from the moment of conception to the point of natural death. The Church opposes abortion because it is taking of an innocent human life.
What does the Church mean by pro-life?
To be pro-life means to promote human dignity and development in every sphere of life; to say yes to life. The Church is opposed to all direct attacks against innocent human life
e.g. abortion. abortifacient pills and devices, the abortion pill and the morning after pill, destructive embryo and embryonic stem cell research. genetic engineering, euthanasia, etc, because it believes that every life has purpose, meaning and inherent value.
What can I do?
Learn more about the issues involved: Keep up to date with what is happening in the news on this subject; find out ore on the Day for Life website www.dayforlife.org.
The one thing everyone can do is pray. Pray for all those affected by abortion. Pray everyday for those experiencing a crisis in their pregnancy and for their baby at risk; ask the Lord to touch the heart of the mother carrying this child in her womb and to give her the courage and strength she needs.
Pray for our politicians that they will always keep in mind the sacredness of life in every decision that they take.
Pray for all the victims of abortion, the babies, the mothers, the lathers. the families, the medical profession, our society and ourselves. We are all victims with we live in a society which allows abortion.
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