GHOST STORY

 

Do you like stories about ghosts? I really don’t like scary ghost stories, but when I was a young boy, we watched a cartoon show called Casper the Friendly Ghost. Did you know that over 75 years that there were five different TV shows about Casper? There were also comic books and movies. And I still remember the opening lines to the theme song: Casper the friendly ghost, the friendliest ghost I know. …

Well, people did and still do believe that ghosts are real. That’s why in our Gospel today, Jesus spoke to his disciples about the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit. When he rose from the dead and appeared to them, they were afraid because they thought that they were seeing a ghost.

But the Spirit Jesus spoke about in today’s Gospel is a Helper (Jn 14:23-31). This Spirit helped the disciples – and helps us – understand Jesus’ teachings. Without this Helper then we do not understand Jesus’ teachings.

Do you know where you can find that Helper? That Helper is here with us now in all the people praying together. That Helper or Holy Spirit is in God’s Word when we hear it read and when we teach God’s Word. The Holy Spirit is here when we receive God’s grace through Baptism, Confession and the Lord’s Supper.

Do you know where else the Holy Spirit is? The Holy Spirit is in your heart, and God has poured His love into your heart through the Holy Spirit. That should make you feel very holy.

With that, let us pray. Heavenly Father, from whom all fatherhood in heaven and earth is named: Bless these and all children, and give their parents the spirit of wisdom and love, so that the homes in which they grow up may be to them an image of Your Kingdom, and the care of their parents a likeness of Your love. We pray in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.