Fr. Franco's Letters

Dear Readers of the Flame,

Why did Jesus come? This question can be answered in many ways.

✤ God demonstrates his own love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8). Jesus came to show us God’s love and die for us.

✤ For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you may follow in his footsteps. (I Peter 2:21) Jesus came to be our example in every way, especially when we suffer innocently.

✤ …Indeed, the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the devil. (I John 3:8b)

I want to reflect on another reason with some detail: Jesus came that we might live in the Holy Spirit. St. John the Baptist testified:

I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whoever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ (John 1:33)

At Pentecost, St. Peter said:

Exalted at the right hand of the God, he [Jesus] received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father and poured it forth, as you both see and hear…and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord may call.” (Acts 2:33, 38b-39)

St. Paul told Titus:

…He saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior. (Titus 3:5b-6)

What does life in the Holy Spirit look like? I believe the first characteristic of life in the Holy Spirit is intimacy with God. Again, St. Paul reminds us:

As proof that you are children, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child, then also an heir, through God. (Galatians 4:6-7)

Many of us who experienced baptism in the Spirit testify to the reality of St. Paul’s words. Prayer is not so much saying words to God who is out there. Prayer is talking to One who is near and within our hearts.

With rare exceptions (hermits and some monks), life in the Holy Spirit is a life of communion with others. Again, St. Paul says:

…striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace: one Body and one Spirit, as you were also called in one hope of your call…(Ephesians 4:3-4)

Authentic life in the Spirit means we seek unity over judging others. Real charity covers a multitude of sins (I Peter 4:8). This is not “sloppy agape.” There are times when careful discernment for the sake of the truth is necessary. This leads to another characteristic of life in the Spirit.

Life in the Spirit discerns truth from error. St. John teaches:

Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)

Earlier in this letter, St. John reminded the Church:

As for you, the anointing that you received from him remains in you, so that you do not need anyone to teach you. But his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false; just as I taught you, remain in Him. (I John 2:27)

This anointing, the Holy Spirit, will remind us of what Jesus taught (see John 14:26) and assist us in discerning truth from error. However, this does not mean that we become our own authority. We seek discernment from the Catholic Church, which can often be accessed through the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Talking with ordained leaders can be helpful. Being docile and humble to the authority of the Church is necessary. (Even figuring out the authentic Church can take some discernment. In an AI created video on YouTube, Pope Leo XIV praised Ibrahim Traoré, the military ruler of Burkina Faso. This was a ‘deep fake’. If you want to know what the Pope is saying, go to www.vatican.va, not YouTube.)

Finally, life in the Spirit is an empowered life. Jesus gave this promise to the apostles: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses…to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) This promised gift of the Spirit and the power to witness is also for us. Our witness to Jesus can take many forms:

• Simply doing the right thing
• Sharing what Jesus means to you with a friend
• Being part of an evangelistic team (Life in the Spirit, Alpha, ChristLife, et cetera) that brings other people into a deeper life in the Spirit
• Under trial, speaking the words that the Holy Spirit inspires in you (Matthew 10:19-20)
• Exercising the charisms (I Corinthains 12-14, Romans12 and others) of the Spirit for the good of others
• Doing corporal works of mercy (see Matthew 25:31-46)

Life in the Spirit is an empowered life.

During these seasons of Lent and Easter, the Church brings before our eyes the saving events of Jesus Christ: his passion, death and resurrection. Let us remember why Jesus did this. Yes, he came to destroy the works of the devil, to bring us forgiveness of our sins and to inspire us with his example. Jesus also came so that we would live in the Holy Spirit. The Easter Season will end with Pentecost. It is not simply the capstone of a liturgical season. Pentecost is an ongoing reality.

Let us live in the Holy Spirit every day!