Catechesis Notes for the Week — Jesus’ Encouraging Catechesis — Our Eastertide Bible readings in the Congregation at Prayer offer to us the comforting and encouraging words of Jesus to the disciples in the Upper Room on Maundy Thursday. In these readings He prepares them for their future ministry as His apostles and offers comfort to Christians and the Church of every age as we face hardship and persecution for confessing Christ. Many of these words we know by heart: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me…I am the way, the truth, and the life…I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper…even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you…If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love Him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him…the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” (Selections are from John 14). By the ministry of the Holy Spirit, the resurrection Gospel of Jesus’ peace and forgiveness is delivered to us. We are comforted and strengthened to remain faithful in our witness to Him who has given His life for us. By the testimony of the Spirit of Truth we have the assurance that we belong to Christ.CP230423