Work with the Holy Spirit, Keep the Devil at Bay – May 12 – Homily – Fr Michael

Fr. Michael unpacks Jesus' Gospel promise: after His priestly sacrifice and ascension, He sends the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, to guide to all truth and convict the world regarding sin (unbelief in Jesus as the Way, Truth, and Life), righteousness (faith without sight, as with Thomas: "Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed"), and judgment (Satan, prince of this world, condemned by Christ's victory over sin and death). In Christianized societies, this conviction is largely accomplished—commandments embedded, devil's overt rule broken—but complacency invites regression. Fr. cites pre-Christian horrors like Aztec human sacrifice, voodoo in Benin, Africa (official religion), and missionaries' martyrdoms going all the way back to Paul and Silas beaten, apostles killed, John boiled in oil. Our Lady of Guadalupe rapidly converted nine million Aztecs. Today, Western Christians must accelerate holiness, be exemplary like Paul and Silas (converting the jailer), and sustain Christian principles as light and salt. Fr. warns from Canada experience: without priests, faith scatters quickly ("strike the shepherd, sheep scatter"), darkness creeps in. Let the Spirit convict us to keep society illuminated by Christ.

Blessed believe without seeing – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/20?29
CCC 692 – Spirit of Truth title – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p1s2c3a8.htm#692
CCC 1433 – Spirit prompts contrition – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c2a4.htm#1433
CCC 158 – Faith surpasses mere sight – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p1s1c3a1.htm#158
CCC 849 – Church's missionary obligation – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p123a9p3.htm#849
Christians light salt earth – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/5?13
Catholic Answers – Guadalupe Aztec conversions – https://www.catholic.com/audio/caf/caf-143

00:00 - Introduction to the Holy Spirit
00:46 - The Sacrifice and the Advocate
01:13 - Convicting the World of Sin and Righteousness
02:41 - The Condemnation of the Devil
03:25 - The Fragility of Christian Society
04:38 - Lessons from Missionary History
06:35 - Our Call to Keep Darkness at Bay
10:15 - The Danger of Complacency and Loss of Faith