FORMATION
FORMATION 1998
THEME NO.6
"The Spirit is the
principal agent of Evangelization"
1. Formation Prayer
(To be recited by all present).
In the name of the Father …
Heavenly Father, as we commence this
session of the Formation Programme, help us to believe you are near to us and that you
care for each of us every day of our lives. Send the Holy Spirit to be our helper and our
guide, enlightening our minds, giving us the grace to serve you with generous hearts and
inspiring us to stand firm as Christians in your love. We ask this through Christ our
Lord. Amen.
2. Scripture Reading – Acts
2:1-6
(Read by the discussion leader or
member nominated by him.)
When the day of Pentecost had come, they
were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush
of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided
tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them
were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak other languages, as the Spirit gave
them ability.
Now there were devout Jews from every
nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was
bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.
3. The Message
(Read by the discussion leader or the
member nominated by him.)
On the day of Pentecost, the baptism of
fire announced by John (Luke 3:16) took place. God sent the Spirit of his Son and with
this the Church was born. For the Church is not a human institution, or the work of a
group of believers; it comes from God’s initiative and God wills that individuals of
every nation witness to this achievement. The Church must evangelize and reevangelize a
world which is often de-christianized and secularized. "Evangelization will never be
possible without the action of the Holy Spirit" affirms Pope Paul VI. Pope John Paul
II presses the point: "In our own day too, the Spirit is the principal agent of the
new evangelization. Hence it will be important to gain a renewed appreciation of the
Spirit as the one who builds the kingdom of God within the course of history and prepares
its full manifestation in Jesus Christ, stirring people’s hearts and quickening in
our world the seeds of the full salvation which will come with the end of time" (TMA,
45).
4. The Exercise
(Five minutes of reflection by all
members.)
What are some indications of a world which
is de-christianized and secularized?
How can I respond to the task of being an
evangelizer of the world?
How can the Order of the Knights of the
Southern Cross be a more effective instrument of the Holy Spirit?
5. The Sharing
(Members share aspects of their
personal faith and its place in their lives that have come to them through the Exercise.)
6. The Word
(The basis of meditation and reflection
for the ensuing month given by the discussion leader.)
"The Spirit himself and our spirit
bear united witness that we are children of God" (cf Romans 8:8-17).
7. Closing Prayer
(Recited by all members.)
God our Father let the Spirit you sent on
your Church to begin the teaching of the gospel continue to work in the world through the
hearts of all who believe. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
