The Spirituality of Pentecost

Objectives

1. Understand that the spirituality of Pentecost is the spirituality for new evangelization.

2. Value the different gifts of the Holy Spirit that empowers us to do new evangelization.

3. Commit to be a LCSC champion by fully embracing the mission of LCSC. 

Expanded Outline

I. Introduction

When we look at the world that we live in today and look at it through our eyes of faith we can say that our society and our Church is in a dire situation. There is an unprecedented assault on faith, family, and life. There is great apostasy in faith. There are enemy within the Church. There is much confusion and disillusionment from the Catholic faithful. At the end will Jesus find faith on earth (Lk 18:8)? Will the Church be just a little flock?

Thus, we who recognized this current situation of the Church must not be complacent rather we must be driven to do so much more for the revival of the world and the renewal of the Church. We need to give our all to respond to the call of new evangelization. We need to respond with a sense of urgency! 

II. Renewing the Church

In the history of the Church, every time that there is a crisis that she faces, the Lord raise men and women as agent of renewal. Today, brothers and sisters this is our great privilege and responsibility. By saying yes to the mission of LCSC, we too have said yes to the great cause of restoring the missionary character of the Church.

LCSC is about the restoration of the missionary character of the Church. It is for the revival of her zeal to do evangelization and mission. It is all about prioritizing the primary purpose of the Church and that is to evangelize. 

• It has a vision and mission that is goal toward a new evangelization

• It has practical methodologies that can result in very massive evangelization, especially of lapsed Catholics, and going to the peripheries

• It does not compete with parish ministries and Catholic orgs. Rather, LCSC integrates into BECs and provides warm bodies for parish groups and works.

• It can empower the laity in an extensive way.

• It is engaging in the social and spiritual dimensions of the gospel.

There is really nothing quite like LCSC in the Church today. It is unique because at the core of LCSC is the spirituality of Pentecost. It is the spirituality that drives us to do our mission.

III. The Spirituality of Pentecost

The New Evangelization follows the methodology of Pentecost this is because it is the Holy Spirit who is the primary agent of evangelization. We really need to understand his role in our mission.

When you read the Gospel of St. Matthew and St. Mark, Jesus tells his disciples to go. But in the Gospel of St. Luke, he tells them to wait. He told them to wait for The Holy Spirit comes upon them on Pentecost before they go and make disciples of all nation. This is a proof of how crucial it is for us to receive the empowerment of the Holy Spirit before we go ever do a worldwide mission (Acts 1:8).

A. The Early Church lived according to the Spirit of Pentecost.

Elements of the spirit of Pentecost, which are mostly absent today in our Church.

(1) Personal relationship with Jesus. Prayer. Holiness.

(2) The word of God (Rom 10:17b). Study. Formation.

(3) Worship. Vibrant. Acts 4:31. Eucharist as the highest form.

(4) Community.

(5) Spiritual gifts. 1 Cor 12:8-10.

Reviving the spirituality of Pentecost would revive this crucial element in the Church. Reviving this element will strengthen our evangelistic and missionary zeal.

B. Spirituality for New Evangelization

Reviving the spirituality of Pentecost would revive this crucial element in the Church. Reviving this element will strengthen our evangelistic and missionary zeal.

(1) Of empowerment by the Holy Spirit for worldwide mission. Lk 24:49. Acts 1:5. Acts 1:8.

(2) Of Pentecost. Acts 2:4.

(3) Of the early Church. Samaria (Acts 8:17). Gentiles (Peter-Acts 10:45-46; Paul-19:6)

(4) Of our ancestors-in-faith. Book of Psalms.

(5) That brings people to personal conversion and transformation in Christ.

- Touch minds and hearts. Acts 2:37-38. Especially for nominal Christians.

(6) That provides spiritual gifts essential for mission.

- Problem: 1 Cor 12:1. Catholics are unaware!

- Most contentious: tongues. Important for prayer – 1 Cor 14:2, 14.

(7) That builds Christian community. Early Church: Acts 2:42-47.

- Spiritual gifts are for building community. Everyone is given a gift.

(8) Of worship in heaven. Rev 7:9-10; 19:1, 6. Prepare for heaven

IV. Moving Forward in the Spirit

“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:35-38

LCSC work is rapid, massive, worldwide. Our target is to reach all 1 billion Catholics in all countries. This is because the heart of Jesus for souls is still the same. He continues to be compassionate for all the souls who are lost. He does not want anyone to be lost.

But the problem is the Church lack the laborers to bring them back to God. That is why He asked His disciples to pray for more laborers for the Kingdom. What we don’t realize is that God has already answered this prayer. The laborers are all in the parishes! The laborers are all in in lay groups and organizations. All we need to do is to engage them and make them see their calling as evangelizers and missionaries.

Here in the mission of LCSC, God has provided us the “Why” and the “How” to ignite the missionary zeal of every baptized Catholics. It has provided us with the “Tools” that we can use to bring about new evangelization. It has provided us with the “Way” to bring back lapsed Catholic back to the Church. All we need to do is to say Yes to this call and embrace its mission and God will bless the work of our hands and will make New Evangelization real in our Church.

Here in LCSC we recognized that the work of New Evangelization is of, by, and for the Church. We know that we are just prime movers of this work that belongs to the Church. We know that this work is not exclusive to one group alone. We know that for it to happen we need to constantly involve everyone in the Church (religious, lay, congregations, parish organization, public institutions, schools, foundations, government, and non-government organizations). 

So, what is the way forward?

(1) Expand your vision for New Evangelization

• Appreciate and Study the mission of LCSC. Read the books of our LCSC Moderator.

• Know where to start the mission of LCSC best (parish or publics)

(2) Be Deliberate and Intentional in Offering our Program

• Present the need to respond to the call of new evangelization and offer LCSC mission as a tool to respond to that call to as many parish priest, PPC’s, and lay leders.

• Understand the need of your parish / publics and offer the appropriate LCSC program.

• Remember that our programs in LCSC (LP Forums, LL Forums, LtF Forums, LBS Trainings, LTW Hubs,NoNE programs, and SeLF )serves as an entry points and should lead people into a authentic encounter with Christ through the LCS. 

(3) Strive to make our Pastors and Lay Leaders embrace the mission of LCSC and not just to accept it.

• When the mission of LCSC is just accepted in the parish, they look at us as either service providers or another lay organization in the parish. 

• We must make them understand that this is not our goal. Our goal is to partner with the parish and create with them a program for new evangelization. We are not just here to provide a service and offer the program but to be together in embracing the work of new evangelization in your parish.

• We want to make New Evangelization a key program in the parish that is lead by the servant-leaders of the parish.

(4) Commit to financially support the mission of LCSC.

• Since LCSC is a parish program then it is the parish who should really support the financial need of its mission.

• But since we are the prime movers of the mission then we must also take the lead in supporting it financially.

• Let us commit ourselves to be part of GIDEON 300 and look for other donors and benefactos who could also help fund the mission of LCSC.

(5) Be connected.

• Since LCSC mission is a movement of like-minded individuals and organizations who recognize the need to respond to the call of New Evangelization then it is important that we stay connected with each other and be updated with what is happening in our mission.

o Join the LCSC mailing list.

o Join the LCSC messaging groups (FB messenger, viber, telegram)

o Like, Joined and Subscribe to all LCSC Social Media pages.

o Visit the LCSC website.

Conclusion

“Those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified.” Romans 8:30

Brothers and sisters, it’s God who calls you and prepares you to be His missionaries for new evangelization. He has empowered you to do this mission when you received the power of the Holy Spirit. But He leaves it up to us to respond and do it! 

Today God is asking us to accept that call. We might be answering this call for the first time or for a thousand times but no matter how many times you were called what matter the most is our response. May our personal encounter with Jesus inspires us to say to him “Here I am Lord, I will go”.

Discussion Questions:

What spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit do I want to receive to be effective in the work of New Evangelization? 

How can I grow in the Spirit of New Evangelization?