Lesson 12
Lesson 12
Embedded Files
The Sacrament of Confirmation
The Sacrament of Confirmation
Beginning from childhood, there are many things you gradually become aware of and one of those things is growth. Typically this awareness is initially with physical growth. As you mature, you begin to realize there are other areas of growth. Hopefully, you garner an understanding these other areas need nurturing for proper growth for maturing into adulthood. Growth in faith, knowledge, and wisdom becomes especially important. An essential truth is that your body, soul, and mind grow as an essential part of the human condition. When you stop growing; you die.
Within the Catholic Christian lifestyle, spiritual growth is a constant aspect. Your soul needs to grow in God for strength and to continue forming a relationship with God. As the human body grows from childhood, adolescence, to adulthood, likewise in its own particular way the soul must mature in the life of grace. Therefore, Catholics believe the Sacrament of Confirmation provides the grace for directing supernatural growth which is the spiritual equivalent of the natural/physical growth process. Confirmation builds on what was begun in the Sacrament of Baptism. As well your soul is nourished in the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Eucharist. Confirmation completes the process of initiation into the Christian community, and it matures the soul for the work of Christ which is to come.[1]
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[1] Philippians 2:13 “…For God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
What is Confirmation?
What is Confirmation?
The sacrament of Confirmation is the anointing of the Holy Spirit. It is one of the sacraments of initiation that Catholics experience in the process of their religious upbringing and is an important part of spiritual growth. According to Catholic doctrine, this sacrament seals you with the gift of the Holy Spirit and you are strengthened in your Christian life through the grace received by the Holy Spirit of God. Confirmation completes the process of “full” initiation into the Christian community and matures the soul for what lies ahead on the faith journey.
There is a close relationship between the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation.[1] While Confirmation is a distinct and complete sacrament of its own, its purpose is to perfect in the soul of the faithful that which was begun in Baptism. You might say—in a sense—that you are baptized in order to be confirmed.
Growing beyond a self-centered spirituality
Growing beyond a self-centered spirituality
You are born spiritually in Baptism. This rebirth allows you to become a sharer in the divine life of the most Blessed Trinity. You begin to live a supernatural life. In practicing the virtues of faith, hope, and love, you unite with Christ in His Church in offering worship to God and grow in holiness through grace and goodness.
When you are at or remain at the stage of baptism your spiritual life, like the life of a child, is largely self-centered. You tend to be preoccupied with the needs of your soul, with the effort to "be good." You cannot be left to be spiritually self-centered, of course—not. Spiritual growth is significant for understanding what it means to be a member of Christ's Mystical Body, and understanding the significance of the Mass. It is in giving of yourself to follow the will of God and giving of yourself to others which marks a mature Christian. The grace of Confirmation, helps the Christian journey in a towards maturity and continued unity in the body of Christ.
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[1] CCC 1285
Living for others
Living for others
The Sacrament of Confirmation marks an episode in your spiritual walk where the grace received must be shared by ministering to others. You become aware of a special grace by which your faith is deepened and strengthened. This grace allows for the confidence and the willingness to continue to grow spiritually in your faith in order to be strong enough not only for your own needs but for the needs of others. This grace is for living the message of the Gospel and ministering to one another.
With the onset of adolescence, a child begins to assume, progressively more and more, the responsibilities of adulthood. The child begins to see a place for them in the total family picture and eventually in the community at large.
Similarly, the confirmed Christian begins to see more clearly the responsibility to Christ not only for self but neighbor as well. As a Christian you strive to become deeply concerned with the welfare of Christ in the world, which is the Church and the welfare of Christ in your neighbor. But this requires a personal investment tie and commitments to come to know God through His revealed word, prayer and the sacraments.
It is in this sense that Confirmation is a spiritual "growing up." Not that you are fully grown spiritually but that you are at a point where you engaged in the process to mature spiritually in your relationship with God. This includes the responsibility to respond to the Love of Christ and do what you “ought to do.” You actively participate in the love and grace received from God, seek opportunities to know God better and seek to do his will for His kingdom here on earth.
Special grace
Special grace
It is by the grace coming from the Holy Spirit, your soul will sense a yearning and desire to serve Church, community, and neighbor with compassion. The Holy Spirit provides grace filled power and growth in wisdom for the purpose of discernment in the areas of servitude, spiritual growth and vocations.
Initially with Baptism, its "mark" or character made you a sharer with Christ in His role of priest and giving you the power to participate with Him in divine worship. The character of Confirmation makes you a sharer with Christ in His role of prophet which is more properly thought of as a teacher. One who conveys the faith.
A prophet is a person who teaches, or better, gives witness to what God has revealed. A prophet is necessarily for the predicting of future events. Prophets of the Old and New Testament prophesized as a form of teaching from God. An earlier lesson pointed out how one of the prophets, Isaiah, provided information about the coming of the messiah Jesus Christ. We cannot think of these passages as “predictions.” They were announcements more so in that the prophet Isaiah was giving a witness or testimony as to what God revealed how the messiah would be recognized.
Once confirmed, you now participate with Christ in His kingdom, by adding new souls to His Mystical Body through acts of charity and acts of edification. Your words and your works are not merely directed towards your own sanctification but also towards the purpose of making Christ's truths alive and real for those around you. The Catechism's section on Confirmation says that Confirmation is the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Its effects are to:
Root you more deeply in divine filiation (being children of God)
Unites you more firmly to Christ
Increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in you
Strengthens your bond with the Church
Associates you more closely to her mission of bearing witness to Christ
Helps you and more strictly obliges you to spread and defend the faith by word and deed
Actively living your vocation
In generations past, the church acknowledged confirmed Catholics as "soldiers of Christ” (which is still true). These words indicate Confirmation's effects, it configures you for a full & active mission of service to Christ. As a spiritual soldier of Christ, you move more into spiritual maturity, going forth in fortitude but joyfully in the fulfillment of your vocation. This also means every time you “go forth” from the Holy Mass, you go with an expected dependency on the Holy Spirit and the grace freely given by God in the sacraments to be Christ-like in the world.
Strong in faith and with an ardent love for souls which stems from love for Christ, the Christian feels a continual concern for others. Sometimes as a Christian you can feel a restless discontent unless you are doing something worthwhile for others—to ease their burdens of life, and to make more secure their promise of life eternal. Your words and especially your actions proclaim to others: "Christ lives, and He lives for you." This restlessness is fulfilled only by doing these things in cooperation with and directed by God’s will and not done so you may simply feel good about yourself.
The grace to do all of this was promised by Jesus to His Apostles (and to all of us) when He said, "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you shall be witnesses for Me. . . . even to the very ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
The Roots of Confirmation
The Roots of Confirmation
There is no initiating act from Jesus public life which clearly delineates the institution of the sacrament of Confirmation. This is one of the "many other things that Jesus did" which, as St. John says, which are not written down in the Gospels (John 21:25). But Jesus does promise to send the “Advocate” (counselor) who is the Holy Spirit.[1]
In the bible an event called “Pentecost,” the Holy Spirit fills the Apostles and others who are present, with grace and power. This is the gift of the Holy Spirit which Jesus promised and continues in the life of the Church today. The Holy Spirit comes to “seal” the life and soul of a person follow the ministry of Jesus Christ. The “seal” of confirmation is not a stamp of approval, lid or enclosure. It is a “mark.” Yes, another indelible mark on your soul saying you have been marked by the Holy Spirit.
In Gospels Jesus sent his Disciples “out.” In one passage He sends out seventy disciples. In another passage Jesus sends them out in twos. These passages indicate Jesus sends them out with “power.” What follows are passages about the disciples return and they relate back to Jesus the results. They remark at how they were able to “Cast out demons” in His name.”
The Tradition of the Catholic Church teaches and provides the sacrament of Confirmation from the examples and promises of Jesus. It is through the teaching tradition of the church where the form of the sacrament comes from, but it is through the examples of Jesus and Acts of the Apostles where the church gets the source.
The “Teaching Tradition of the Catholic Church” is handed from our Lord, to the Apostles, who inspired by the Holy Spirit continued to hand on the faith and its practice thereof. As such it is of equal authority with Sacred Scripture as a source of divine truth. When a “bible thumping” person (albeit a friend, co-worker, relative or stranger at the door) claiming to go by the "Bible-alone" and thrusts out his jaw saying, "Show it to me in the Bible; I don't believe it unless it's in the Bible," you should not fall into their trap. You answer sweetly by saying: "Show me in the Bible where it says that I must believe only what is written there." Or "Show me in the Bible where it says that I must believe YOUR interpretation!”
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[1] John 16:7-14
It so happens that the Bible indeed tells us about Confirmation. Not under that name, of course. Aside from Baptism, our present names for the sacraments were developed by the early theologians of the Church; "Laying on of hands" was the earliest name for Confirmation. This is the name which the Bible uses in the following passage taken from the Acts of the Apostles:
"Now when the Apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John. On their arrival they prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit; for as yet He had not come upon any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. But when Simon [the magician] saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the Apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying, 'Give me also this power, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit'." (Acts 8:14-19)
It is from the passage sited above, about ‘the attempt of the magician Simon to buy the power to give Confirmation,’ the word "simony" comes from. Simony is the sin of buying and selling of sacred things. A minor but important point, because the passage points out that Simon the ‘magician’ recognized that this grace can only be conferred by those who have the power to do so and not just anyone! This is a very powerful observation on his part, also powerful because it is true!
Today the Apostles are still with the Church in the form of Bishops, Cardinals and the Pope.
It is from the passage sited above, about ‘the attempt of the magician Simon to buy the power to give Confirmation,’ the word "simony" comes from. Simony is the sin of buying and selling of sacred things. A minor but important point, because the passage points out that Simon the ‘magician’ recognized that this grace can only be conferred by those who have the power to do so and not just anyone! This is a very powerful observation on his part, also powerful because it is true!
Another significant point in the passage is what it conveys about the Sacrament of Confirmation. Confirmation is a complement to Baptism, a completion of what was begun in Baptism. Nevertheless, Confirmation is distinct from Baptism.
The scripture above discloses where some Samaritans, already baptized, was required the "laying on of hands" to receive the Holy Spirit.
The same passage also tells the way in which Confirmation was to be given: by the placing of the hands of the ordained, upon the head of the one to be confirmed, with a prayer, so that person may receive the Holy Spirit.
What is particularly interesting is this passage makes clear the fact; it was the Apostles (the bishops) who did the confirming. Whoever it was who had baptized the Samaritans, clearly did not have the power to "lay hands" upon them and to impart to them the Holy Spirit. The Apostles, Peter and John, traveled from Jerusalem to Samaria in order to give the sacrament of Confirmation to these new Christians.
The bishop is the original minister of Confirmation. Today, ordinarily, the bishop still administers this sacrament so that there is a clear link to the first outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. However, bishops can also permit priests to administer this sacrament. In practice this is often done for logistical reasons for a large diocese.
The Chosen
Chosen’ means to be called by God. In the Bible there are many instances where God chooses by calling certain individuals to a new and very different life. God called Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Samuel, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jonah, Zachariah, Mary, John the Baptist, Peter, James and John.
God calls everyone. God called you and you have been chosen by God. Perhaps you are not required to build an ark as Noah did, part the ocean like Moses did, lead an army as Joshua did, lead like a king or to be a great prophet. Then again, God might. God called a young teenage St. Joan of Arc to lead the armies of France for their freedom. After all; with Baptism, all are called to be Priest, Prophet and King. (we Worship God, we teach about God and we serve God and others).
How can you, or anyone for that matter fulfill such a call? You do it with God’s grace, following His will and the guidance of Holy Spirit. That is the ONLY WAY!!
At the very beginning of this course, it was pointed out that God was calling you. He calls out to you daily. It was also pointed out that God has a plan for everyone which includes you. You just need to choose to draw nearer to Him.
For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for woe(Evil), so as to give you a future of hope. Jeremiah 29:11
“Following God’s will, is to Love God; Loving God is to follow His will”[1]
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[1] Marcus J. Tamayo - “Journey” Conference St Joseph parish 1996
The Rite of Confirmation
The Sacrament or Rite of Confirmation is quite simple. The essential part of the Confirmation rite is when the bishop or priest places his hand upon the head of the individual.
Candidates for Confirmation, known as confirmand process up to the where the bishop (or priest) is standing. Sometimes for smaller groups the confirmands will line up at the foot of the alter.
The bishop or celebrant approaches the confirmand, then traces the sign of the cross on the person's forehead—having first dipped his thumb in the holy oil called chrism, —and while anointing them oil says,
"Be sealed with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit."
The person responds by saying, "Amen."[1]
"Peace be with you."
The person responds by saying, "And with your Spirit”
Anointing
Anointing is the sign of being set apart for God’s work by following Gods will (Holiness). In Biblical times anointing was done with oil. Chrism is used for this. It is one of the three kinds of holy oil which a bishop blesses each year during Mass on Holy Thursday. The other two kinds of holy oil are the oil of catechumens (used in Baptism) and the oil of the sick (used in the sacrament for the Anointing of the Sick). All of the holy oils are composed of pure olive oil.
From ancient times, olive oil has been looked upon as a strengthening substance; so much so that athletes would bathe in olive oil before taking part in a contest. Oil was used by the prophets for anointing. The significance of the holy oils used in the administration of the sacraments becomes evident. Besides the significance of anointing, oil is the physical sign to represent the strengthening effect of God's grace.
Besides the distinct and special blessing which each holy oil receives, chrism has another difference: balm has been mixed with it. Balm is a fragrant substance procured from the balsam tree. In the holy chrism it symbolizes the "sweet odor" of virtue; it tells of the spiritual fragrance, the attractiveness that should characterize the life of the person who puts the graces received at Confirmation to work.
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[1]CCC 1297 The consecration of the sacred chrism is an important action that precedes the celebration of Confirmation, but is in a certain way a part of it. It is the bishop who, in the course of the Chrism Mass of Holy Thursday, consecrates the sacred chrism for his whole diocese. In some Eastern Churches this consecration is even reserved to the patriarch:
The liturgy of Antioch expresses the epiclesis for the consecration of the sacred chrism (myron) in this way: "[Father . . . send your Holy Spirit] on us and on this oil which is before us and consecrate it, so that it may be for all who are anointed and marked with it holy myron, priestly myron, royal myron, anointing with gladness, clothing with light, a cloak of salvation, a spiritual gift, the sanctification of souls and bodies, imperishable happiness, the indelible seal, a buckler of faith, and a fearsome helmet against all the works of the adversary."
The Hands of the Bishop
For Roman Catholics the Roman Rite of Confirmation is used. In this Rite the bishop or priest who administers the sacrament extends his hands over the whole confirmands. Since the time of the apostles this gesture has signified the gift of the Spirit. The bishop or priest invokes the outpouring of the Spirit in these words:
All-powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by water and the Holy Spirit you freed your sons and daughters from sin and gave them new life.
Send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their helper and guide. Give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence.
Fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe in your presence.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. CCC 1299
Confirmation marks each person with a spiritual seal and with it are bestowed “The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit” for the purpose to “complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them"[1] . According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, "the effect of the sacrament of Confirmation is the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost."[2]
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[1] CCC 1831
[2] CCC 1302
The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit
The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit bestowed upon Christians are:
wisdom, knowledge,
understanding, piety,
counsel, fear of the Lord (Reverence)
fortitude (Courage),
The Gift of Wisdom is the ability to value spiritual things over worldly ones. It enables you to desire the things of God and correctly order the things in your life. This gift helps you view the world through God’s perspective and the light of your faith. It instills a desire to contemplate the things of God.
The Gift of Understanding aids you by helping you grasp the truths of the faith more easily and profoundly. Human intellect cannot grasp all of God’s mysteries, but through the gift of understanding you can be led to truth, even when you do not fully comprehend. This gift strengthens your insight through prayer, scripture, and the sacraments.
The Gift of Right Judgment/Counsel acknowledges the difference between right and wrong and bestows proper judgment. A person with right judgment avoids sin and leads a life for Christ. Counsel inspires us to speak up and encourage others to do the correct thing. It bestows upon us prudence, allowing us to act promptly and rightly in the face of difficult situations.
The Gift of Courage/Fortitude sustains our decision to follow the will of God in any situation. It allows us to stand up and defend our faith, even when threatened by bodily injury or death. This gift allows us to be steadfast in our decisions to do well and to endure evil even when we do not want to.
The Gift of Knowledge is awareness of God’s plan. It is not simply an accumulation of facts, but rather an understanding of God’s purpose and how we ought to respond. Knowledge helps bring to light the temptations that we face, and to discern whether to give in or live a life worthy of God’s approval.
The Gift of Piety or reverence is our obedience to God and our willingness to serve him. It is not just obedience through a sense of duty or obligation, but rather obedience out of love and devotion. It facilitates a deeper respect and honor for God and His Church.
The Gift of Fear of the Lord (Reverence) – (Also referred to as Wonder and Awe) makes us aware of the glory and majesty of God. This gift is also synonymous with the "Fear of the Lord", in which we dread sin and fear offending God. We fear displeasing God and losing our connection with him because of our love for Him. This gift increases our desire to draw closer to God and depart from sin.
The Effects of Confirmation
The Effects of Confirmation
CCC 1302: It is evident from its celebration that the effect of the sacrament of Confirmation is the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost.
CCC 1303: From this fact, Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace:
- it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, "Abba! Father!";
- it unites us more firmly to Christ;
- it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us;
- it renders our bond with the Church more perfect;
- it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross:
Recall then that you have received the spiritual seal, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence, the spirit of holy fear in God's presence. Guard what you have received. God the Father has marked you with his sign; Christ the Lord has confirmed you and has placed his pledge, the Spirit, in your hearts.[1]
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[1] St. Ambrose, De myst. 7,42:PL 16, 402-403
The Fruits of the Holy Spirit[1]
The moral life you choose with the growth of virtue is one led by the Holy Spirit and grace. God intends for all those seeking to do His will to be blessed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit in order to sustain the moral life[2] From these gifts springs forth the fruits of the Holy Spirit which are signs God is transforming you into supernatural life. There are twelve Fruits of the Spirit:[3] Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Generosity, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Modesty, self-control, chastity.
These fruits in of themselves garner growth and change. From them the Christian can know God is working in and through them. For example, with charity there is a return of mercy, joy and peace, both given and received.[4] However, in the Christian life style, one should never expect a “Wind-fall of benefits” as a condition for following Christ. Such a thought is presumptuous and shows a lack of faith.
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[1] Galatians 5:7-14
[2] CCC 1830
[3] CCC1832
[4] CCC1829
Going Forth in to the World
Am I allowing the grace I received to work?
Am I allowing the grace I received to work?
The cross which is traced upon the forehead of the confirmand is a powerful symbol if it is really understood and acted upon. It is quite easy to know whether you do understand and act accordingly. You have only to ask yourself:
"Do I actually live as though there were a visible cross branded on my forehead, marking me as 'Christ's man' or 'Christ's woman'?"
"In my daily life, do I really bear witness to Christ?"
"By my attitude towards others, by my treatment of those around me, by my actions in general do I proclaim: 'This is what it means to be a Christian; this is what it means to live by the Gospel'?"
If the answer is no, then it means the special grace received at Confirmation is being wasted. This grace is available in abundance if it were just put to use.
Once receiving the sacrament of Confirmation, use the grace which God provides, always! It is this strengthening grace will enable you to overcome your human pettiness, your cowardice in the face of human opinion and your fear of self-sacrifice.
Strength to live in the world
Strength to live in the world
In Confirmation, the bishop or priest places their hand(s) upon your head and calls down upon you the Holy Spirit who can, if you will let Him, transform your life. Without Baptism you cannot go to heaven. Without Confirmation you can get to heaven, but the going will be much rougher. Remember God wants you to be the best person you can be:
“I came that you might have life, and in abundance (fullness).” John 10:10b
Without Confirmation and the practice of the graces received, it would be easy to lose your way entirely and easy to lose your need for faith in God. That is why it is an obligation for every baptized person to be confirmed. The baptized person must afford for themselves the opportunity of receiving the sacrament of Confirmation. Even if it is when they reach adulthood.
Jesus did not institute any of the sacraments "just for the fun of it." Jesus instituted each individual sacrament because He foresaw, in His infinite wisdom, that the body of Christ would have need of certain special graces under certain circumstances.
Jesus foresaw, among other things, the dangers to which your faith would experience. Some of the dangers would be from within, as when your passions or self-will (selfishness) makes war with the belief in truth. Sometimes the dangers to your faith are from without also; such as temptation.
In all these circumstances, the grace of Confirmation comes to your aid (if you will let it) and irresistibly pushes back the urgings of self-will by helping you to yield to the will of God. The grace of the sacraments helps to preserve your sense of values and keep you on an even keel so that the gift of faith may triumph. The peace you find is a real peace in the sense that it is not just a passive feeling, but a peace which has a deeper sense by providing assurance and trust in God.
With confirmation you must live the faith with worship and prayer as a part of your life. Additionally, there must be an active part to learn more about your faith through reading of scripture and holy books. But all this must lead to the ministry of service, beginning with family, participation in the life of the church then going out from there.
Priests, Prophets and Kings
Priests, Prophets and Kings
With the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion, this completes the initiation into the Faith for a Catholic and you become priest, prophet and king.
With the Body of Christ as a priestly people, you are dedicated to worshipping God. Worship is a primary part of your faith. You attend Mass weekly on Sunday, Holy days of Obligation and more frequently when you can. You are devoted to God through His Love through charity, praise of God and prayer.
As a prophet, you listen, learn and teach the faith. You can do this first and foremost by example. You carry on by example and teaching with family and friends. You can also do this in discussion and in more formal settings as well.
As a king you are meant to serve rather than be served. You can seek to serve those in need. You serve in your family. Serve by helping your neighbor. You also serve in your parish by helping in various functions. You also edify, encourage and assist one another in times of need.
A Jesus Moment: Jesus sends Forth His Disciples.
A Jesus Moment: Jesus sends Forth His Disciples.
1 After this the Lord appointed seventy[-two] others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit.
2 He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.
3 Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.
4 Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way.
5 Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’
6 If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.
7 Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another.
8 Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you,
9 cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’
10 Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say,
11 ‘The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.’ Yet know this: the kingdom of God is at hand.
Return of the Seventy-two.
17 The seventy[-two] returned rejoicing, and said, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.”
18 Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky.
19 Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you.
20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
(Luke 10:1-11 & 17-18)
In the disclosed scripture reading, Jesus sends Is disciples out into the world. At this point His death and resurrection had not taken place. So, the fullness of His grace as given through the cross and resurrection had not taken place. Yet He sends them forth. Perhaps His presence with them in some way was enough preparation for them to go out into the world.
One of the main emphases in this part of the Gospel deals with Christ letting them know that as part of His mission they were to go out into the world. Here he provides clear instructions for going out (Verses 4-7), as well how they were to conduct themselves. Essentially, they were to go out not relying on earthly resources but on Jesus Himself and they were to conduct themselves with humility.
The Sacraments prepare us as well as provide grace for us to go out into the world to declare that “the kingdom of God is at hand.” The Sacrament of Confirmation is an empowering to be sent into our ministries and out into the world.
Jesus tells His Disciples if a town does not receive them, they are to leave and “Shake the dust” from the town from their feet, and yet still remind them that the kingdom of God is at hand (Verses 10 & 11). He tells them as well as us this because he knows there will e some who will not listen or believe your witness or testimony. By shaking the dust off our feet we are not kicking sand in their face in retribution or as a way to curse them. Instead it is for us not to bemoan their transgression or grudgingly mull over the thought of not being listened to. Jesus simply says “move on.”
Self-reflection:
Self-reflection:
Each week I draw closer to the Sacrament of Confirmation. I must pray and ask the Holy Spirit to bring e to an encounter which will be an intimate union with Christ. Once confirmed, as a new Christian I must continue to pray as I strive to do God’s will. I must seek constantly to imitate Christ, praise Him, Worship Him and thank Him.
Will I allow the graces received to work through me?
What are some ways I can do this in my family?
What are some ways I can do this in my work place and community?
Answer the Questions:
Answer the Questions:
1.) What is the sacrament of Confirmation?
2.) What are the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit?
3.) What are some of the effects of Confirmation?
4.) The Catechism's section on Confirmation says that Confirmation is the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Its effects are to:
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