Preparing for the Holy Spirit Through Love – May 19 – Homily – Fr Michael

Fr. Michael teaches that baptism makes us children of God and prepares us for the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The apostles, once fearful in the upper room, received courage and gifts from the Spirit to proclaim the Gospel. To welcome this grace, believers must grow in charity, the highest virtue, since God is love. St. Bonaventure describes charity as water poured into a cup that eventually fills it completely and displaces every vice. St. Augustine’s counsel to “love God and do what you will” follows, because authentic love avoids offending the beloved. Loving God with the whole mind keeps Him constantly in thought and seeks truth; with the whole heart it chooses His will undividedly; with the whole soul it offers life itself, even to the point of martyrdom. St. Francis reinforces this by calling for poverty, obedience, fasting, prayer, and love of enemies, promising that those who persevere receive the indwelling Spirit and become children of the Father. By seeking God above all things, the faithful prepare their souls for the transforming power of Pentecost.

• NAB – John verse on divine adoption – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/1?11


• Catechism – Charity as highest virtue – https://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/1822.htm


• Catechism – Loving God with whole heart – https://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/2083.htm


• Catechism – Holy Spirit indwelling souls – https://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/733.htm


• NAB – Love command in Matthew – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/22?37


• St Francis – Letter to the Faithful – https://www.liturgies.net/saints/francis/writings.htm#Adfideles


• Catechism – Virtue casting out vice – https://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/1829.htm


• NAB – Spirit empowering apostles – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/2?4

00:00 - Becoming Children of God
00:45 - Preparing for the Holy Spirit
01:23 - The Primacy of Charity
02:38 - St. Bonaventure on Loving God
04:15 - Loving God with Mind, Heart, and Soul
07:16 - St. Francis and the Call to Serve
10:56 - Loving Enemies and Humility
12:52 - Conclusion and Final Blessing