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“Does the MATRIX have you?”

Explore the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the essence of God within us, and how to grow spiritually by embodying virtues like wisdom and love, avoiding worldly desires. Learn to develop the fruits of the Spirit and use your spiritual gifts to serve others in faith.

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“Does the MATRIX have you?”

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  1. 1999 “Does the MATRIX have you?”

  2. Agenda • Opening Prayer • Discussion about the Holy Spirit and YOU! • The Matrix (society) wants you to ignore your Soul and concentrate on your flesh… • Closing Prayer

  3. The “image and likeness” of God • We are made in the “image and likeness” of God (Gen. 1:27) • The Bible tells us “God is a Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24) • Part of God’s Spiritual Being, His “Essence”, His “Nature” lives in us; this “spiritual essence” is called our “Soul”

  4. Is the Holy Spirit living in You? What is it like? How do you know?

  5. The indwelling of the Spirit… The indwelling of the Holy Spirit can be seen at work in a person when they exhibit the “Gifts” of the Spirit… These seven Gifts are expressed through the following virtues: 1) wisdom, 2) understanding, 3) counsel, 4) fortitude, 5) knowledge, 6) piety, and 7) fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:1-2, CCC 1831). These virtues are part of God's Grace. “Grace” is the presence of God living in us. The more we surrender our will and authority to God’s Will and Authority the more God’s presence (Grace) grows in us!

  6. Growing in the Spirit… • Obedience to God’s commandments helps our Soul to mature into the “image and likeness” of God. • Jesus, the ‘visible image of our invisible God’ (Col. 1:15), is our human role-model of the “image and likeness” of God • However, attachment to worldly and fleshly desires can interfere with our spiritual “likeness” of God. As St. Paul says, “the flesh wars against the Spirit…” (Gal. 5:16-21)

  7. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you would. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law. • 19 Now the works of the flesh are these: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God…” (Galatians 5:16-21, RSV)

  8. The fruits of the Holy Spirit… What St. Paul has to say about our spiritual development… “But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives. 26Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another.” (Galatians 5:22-26)

  9. Take good care of your Soul; grow every day in the Spirit… What St. Peter has to say about our spiritual gifts… “As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace.11 Whoever preaches, let it be with the words of God; whoever serves, let it be with the strength that God supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:10-11)

  10. As you grow in the Spirit, others will notice, and will follow along… What St. Timothy has to say about our spiritual gifts and growth… “Do not neglect the gift you have, which was conferred on you through the prophetic word with the imposition of hands of the presbyterate. 15 Be diligent in these matters, be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to everyone. 16 Attend to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in both tasks, for by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.” (1 Timothy, 4:14-16)

  11. How can the Holy Spirit grow in me more and more? • “Be still and know I am the Lord…” (Psalm 46:10) • Through Prayer • Through the Sacraments • Through obedience to God’s teachings • Through God’s Word being written on your heart and in your mind • Through loving God first in your life above all other people and things

  12. 1999 “The Matrix is all around you…”

  13. The “Matrix” is Society and all the noisy confusion of it… “Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their minds; 16 but when a man turns to the Lord the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Cor. 3:15-18)

  14. “Walk in the Spirit, not in the Flesh…” (Gal. 5:16) “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ...” (2 Cor. 4:3-6)

  15. “Set your mind on things above, not below…” (Col. 3:2) St. Paul continues in Chapter 4 to say: “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh…” (2 Cor. 4:8-11)

  16. “The flesh profits nothing, it is the Spirit that gives life!” (John 6:63) “…knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence… Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed every day. 17 For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 because we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal...” (2 Cor. 4:14-18)

  17. Gracias por su atención! May we always choose to remain in the company of God’s Graces through help of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen!

  18. Thank you for your attention! May we always choose to remain in the company of God’s Graces through help of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen!

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