John 16:12 “I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. 13 However, when the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own initiative but will say only what he hears. He will also announce to you the events of the future. 14 He will glorify me, because he will receive from what is mine and announce it to you. 15 Everything the Father has is mine; this is why I said that he receives from what is mine and will announce it to you.[Complete Jewish Bible]
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The Holy Spirit came to the church on Pentecost, just as that Spirit came to the disciples after the resurrection when Jesus breathed on them. He came to each one of us when we were baptized. Our reading today reminds us that this Spirit within will guide us into the truth.
What does this mean for us? Martin Luther puts it this way in the third article of the creed in his Small Catechism: "I believe that I cannot by my own understanding or strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him, but instead the Holy Spirit has called me through the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, made me holy, and kept me in the true faith, just as he calls, gathers, enlightens, and makes holy the whole Christian church on earth and keeps it united with Jesus Christ in the one common, true faith . . . This is most certainly true."
We take our prayer from the words of ELW hymn 395: "Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord, with all your graces now outpoured on each believer's mind and heart; your fervent love to us impart." Amen.
David Kupka
Retired
Doctor of Ministry, 1983
What does this mean for us? Martin Luther puts it this way in the third article of the creed in his Small Catechism: "I believe that I cannot by my own understanding or strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him, but instead the Holy Spirit has called me through the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, made me holy, and kept me in the true faith, just as he calls, gathers, enlightens, and makes holy the whole Christian church on earth and keeps it united with Jesus Christ in the one common, true faith . . . This is most certainly true."
We take our prayer from the words of ELW hymn 395: "Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord, with all your graces now outpoured on each believer's mind and heart; your fervent love to us impart." Amen.
David Kupka
Retired
Doctor of Ministry, 1983
John 16:12 "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
14 He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
15 All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.[New Revised Standard Version]
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