Catechesis Notes for the Week — The Third Article of the Creed—This week’s Bible Verse for memorization and meditation focuses our attention on what is the very heart of the Holy Spirit’s work: to testify of Jesus. The Third person of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit, is the Spirit who proceeds from the Father and the Son to give life and salvation to us in Christ. How does He give testimony to Jesus? By the preaching of the Gospel, Holy Baptism, Holy Absolution, and the Holy Communion. By the Words of the New Testament in the blood of Christ, the Holy Spirit bears witness to our spirits that Jesus is Christ our Savior that we might believe in Him. By these same gifts He, the Holy Spirit, enlightens our hearts, minds, and lives to live from and in the freedom of Christ’s forgiveness. By these same gifts, the Holy Spirit brings Christ into our hearts and brings forth Christ in our lives in love toward others which is the fruit of faith. The Holy Spirit never shines upon Himself; He is always shining upon Christ. We should think of it this way: it is the Holy Spirit who preaches the Gospel, baptizes, forgives sins, and gives us to eat of Christ’s body and blood. It is the Holy Spirit who does all of these things, that our faith and life might be fixed firmly in Christ. That is the Holy Spirit’s work, as Jesus said, “When the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.”

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