alive in the spirit?
"You shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and have you rise from them, O my people! I will put my Spirit in you that you may live." —Ezekiel 37:13-14
The Lord made Ezekiel walk in every direction through a plain of dry bones (Ez 37:1-2). Then He asked Ezekiel if these bones could come to life (Ez 37:3). Ezekiel was not certain that they could, but after he obeyed the Lord's command to prophesy over the bones, they came to life (Ez 37:10).
The Lord has raised up Pope John Paul II, the prophet-Pope, to point out the plain of dry bones upon which we walk. He calls it a "culture of death." Pope John Paul II and Pope Paul VI have prophesied that this culture of death will give way to a "civilization of love," if we are docile to the actions of the Holy Spirit (see Towards The Third Millennium, 18).
The Church has made 1998 the year of the Holy Spirit. This has been called for by the Pope to prepare us for the Great Jubilee, the year 2000. Therefore, repent (see Acts 2:38), obey (see Acts 5:32), and stir into flame the gift of the Holy Spirit (2 Tm 1:6-7). "Thus says the Lord God: From the four winds come, O Spirit, and breathe into these slain that they may come to life. I prophesied as He told me, and the Spirit came into them; they came alive" (Ez 37:9-10). Come, Holy Spirit!
Prayer: "Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love."
Promise: "Jesus said to him: ' "You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, with your whole soul, and with all your mind." This is the greatest and first commandment. The second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." On these two commandments the whole law is based, and the prophets as well. ' " —Mt 22:37-40
Praise: Pope Pius X revived the Church by re-emphasizing Bible studies and advocating frequent Communion.
Reference: (For related teaching, order our book, Seek The Gifts of the Spirit.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert J. Buschmiller, February 17, 1998
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, March 25, 1998