HOLY GHOST STORIES!

 

Do you like stories about ghosts? There have been so many books, movies, TV shows and cartoons about ghosts. Some are very scary and some are really funny. I know that I mentioned that we watched a cartoon named Casper the Friendly Ghost.

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. The Book of Acts also speaks of the disciples being filled with the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost.

The Spirit Jesus spoke about in today’s Gospel (Jn 7:37-39) is given to you just as it was given to the first followers of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is given to you because you believe in Jesus. Martin Luther said that the Holy Spirit helps you believe in Jesus.

This Holy Spirit also helped the disciples – and helps us – understand Jesus’ teachings. Without this Helper then we do not understand Jesus’ teachings.

That Spirit is here with us in all the people praying together. That 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. The Holy Spirit is also in your heart because God 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.