Many of you have received the Holy Spirit in new and greater ways this Pentecost. Now the question is: “Will you quench the Spirit (see 1 Thes 5:19) or grow in the Spirit?” The Lord commands us: “Grow rather in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pt 3:18). “Grow to the full maturity of Christ the Head” (Eph 4:15). “You, beloved, grow strong in your holy faith through prayer in the Holy Spirit” (Jude 20).

The incarnate Jesus Himself grew “in wisdom and age and grace before God and men” (Lk 2:52; see also Lk 2:40). We must imitate Jesus and grow in the Spirit. If we do not, we will lose the growth we have previously had and we will die, for a living organism cannot stay the same (cf Mt 13:12). We grow or die.

Although devastating consequences threaten those who don’t grow, these are not the main reasons we wish to grow. We grow to please our Father, Who created us to grow. He even sent Jesus to die that we may grow. He sent the Holy Spirit to live in us that we may grow in holiness (see 1 Cor 6:19). Our Father, Abba, is pleased when His children grow. Let us grow in and for Him.

Rescript:  "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from June 1, 2024, through July 31, 2024. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio October 4, 2023"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.