allsaintsjonesboro Sermons, Uncategorized

Come Holy Spirit, Fill the Hearts of Thy Faithful

This past Sunday was the Feast of Pentecost, a day in which our focus turns especially to God’s gift of the Holy Spirit. Born again of water and the Spirit–having received the Spirit of adoption–you are directed to the love of God your heavenly Father in and through Christ Jesus. Christ has accomplished your salvation through His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave! Now, with Christ having ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit continues the work of actually proclaiming and delivering Christ and the gifts of Christ to you. It is the Holy Spirit who brings you to and keep you with Christ in the one true faith. And strengthening you in the faith through proclaiming Christ to you, He also proclaims and delivers Christ to those around you in your daily live (at least in part) through you. Hear more in this sermon from Father Leigeber.

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The Vigil of Pentecost and the Spirit Who Proclaims Christ

This evening we celebrate Holy Mass (6:30pm) for the Vigil of Pentecost, as we rejoice at God’s gift of the Helper, the Holy Spirit, who continues to proclaim Christ to us and make Him known in God’s holy Word and blessed Sacraments.

From the beginning, the Holy Spirit’s mission has been clear: to make Christ known. Jesus Himself said the Spirit would not speak on His own authority, but would take what is Christ’s and declare it to us (John 16:13–14). The Spirit is not a vague, impersonal force. He is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity—sent by the Father and the Son to gather and sanctify the Church through the proclamation of the Gospel.

On this Vigil of Pentecost, the Church anticipates the outpouring of the Spirit, not only as a historical event, but as the ongoing life of Christ’s Body on earth. Through Word and Sacrament, the Spirit still gathers sinners into the holy community of the Church, where Christ is truly present—absolving, feeding, and sustaining His people.

The miracle of Pentecost was not simply that tongues were spoken, but that Christ—the Salvation of the world—was preached. That miracle continues every time the Gospel is proclaimed and believed. Every baptism, every sermon, every Eucharist is Pentecost anew—Christ crucified and risen, made known by the Spirit to a world in need.

As we keep vigil, we do so as those who have been called, enlightened, and sanctified by the Spirit. We rejoice that He has gathered us into Christ’s Church, where the risen Lord is among us—still speaking, still saving.

Come, Holy Spirit, and make Christ known.