People of the Resurrection,
In the reading this Sunday we learn about the Holy Spirit. He has a title that you may not know. Jesus tells us that he is the "Advocate." This means that he is our helper and our guide. He is our strong support our defence. The title "Advocate" is a way to compare the Holy Spirit to a good lawyer in a court who pleads our cause.

The Holy Spirit is a pure pure spirit. Unlike the second person of the Blessed Trinity he does not take up our nature. He is invisible. At the same time there are many signs that show us the Holy Spirit is present and active. In the scriptures when ever we see the signs of fire, or the outstretched hand, or the dove, we know that this means the Holy Spirit. This is not to say that the Holy Spirit is fire or a dove. He is not. These signs work to a kind of signal to show us His action.

In the first reading we see that the Holy Spirit is given by the "laying on of hands." We see this happen at Mass. During the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the Priest "calls down" the Holy Spirit on the gifts to make them holy so that they will become really and truly the Body and Blood of Christ for us. The Holy Spirit comes down upon the gifts by the priest stretching out his hands (palm down) over the gifts. This "calling down" is such a special and important part of the bread and wine being transformed that there is a word to describe it: The "Epiclesis."

We are approaching the end of the Easter season. This end is marked by a new beginning. The celebration of the end of Easter is called "Pentecost." It is also know as the "birthday of the Church." Why? Remember after Christ rose from the dead he did not immediately go back to heaven. He stayed here on Earth teaching his Apostles for about 40 days. Then he went back to the Father. We will celebrate that as the "Ascension." From Heaven the Father and the Son Sent the Holy Spirit to do his invisible work. When the Apostles received the Holy Spirit it was amazing. They were not afraid and full of excitement to continue bringing Christ's saving love to the world. We are now in the time of the Spirit. The Father and the Son continue to poor out the Spirit upon us and He works in and through us today. We will soon celebrate the beginning of this era in which we now live. Pray for our Confirmation Students who will be fully initiated into the life that comes from the Advocate. God loves them very much for calling them to prepare for so great gift as to be caught up into his very life by sending the Holy Spirit to live in their hearts.

In Christ,

Fr. St. Martin