In the power of the Holy Spirit

The faithfulness of the Apostles

And it was in the power of the Holy Spirit, and of Jesus’ presence within their innermost souls, that the Apostles went out into the world to preach the Gospel.  And that was why Jesus knew that they would not fail.  So, when he gave them that astonishing command at his Ascension – to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation – he also gave his promise which would make it possible for them to carry out that command: “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;” he told them, ”and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (NRSV, Acts 1:8).  “And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time (Jerusalem Bible, Matthew 28:20).  So at Pentecost the Holy Spirit came to the Apostles and, as St Mark tells us, “…they, going out, preached everywhere, the Lord working with them…” (Jerusalem Bible, Mark 16:20).

And everywhere the Apostles went, they planted the Church and in place after place, men and women, boys and girls were baptised and confirmed, and in this way they too became members of the Church and were given the Holy Spirit of God and the presence of Our Lord within their souls.

And so it is today.  The Church has indeed spread to the ends of the earth, and wherever it is planted, whether here or in distant lands, the Holy Spirit of God is still given through the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation.