THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

Her Doctrine and Morals

Pentecost Sunday

8 June 2025

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The Sunday

Sermon

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Dear Friends in Christ,

"If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word" (Today's Gospel reading, Saint John 14:23-32). Love is everything, but love is not just an emotion or feeling. Love is willing sacrifice and labor. It is in keeping the Word of God that we love God. Obeying God is not just how we show our love for God, but these acts of obedience are acts of love. Love is both spiritual and material; our acts of love are both spiritual and material. Hence, our obedience must be both spiritual and material — internal and external. It is not enough to love God internally without showing any external signs of love. It is not enough to obey God internally but not externally. It is not enough to worship God internally but not externally.

It is not sufficient to merely vocalize our love for God. Our love for God should permeate every aspect of our being, both internally and externally. God rebukes those who worship Him with their lips while their hearts are far from Him. Our entire being needs to be infused with the love of God to the extent that we dedicate all that we think, say, and do to God. All our thoughts, words, and actions should become acts of love of God.

We are frequently confronted by those who claim to possess the love of God within themselves or those who loudly proclaim their love for God yet boldly live in defiance of God's laws. Some perform many humanitarian or good works but do not have any genuine love for God. These individuals are often motivated by pride and vanity or perhaps a tax write-off. Good works performed before the eyes of men and for the praise of men deserve no reward in Heaven because they are not truly done for the love of God.

God is good, and all that God has made is good. Even those who do evil have some good in them. Words or worldly works must not deceive us. It does not follow that some good in people means that they are completely good. Just because we observe evil in some people does not mean that they are entirely evil. God permits us to choose our own paths. We must be wary of being naïve and judging others, as well as ourselves, by mere superficialities.

The question before us is, do we love God? How can we tell? We can tell the level of our love for God by the level of our obedience to His Word. Do our thoughts, words, and actions all conform to the Word of God? Before we accept people who promote an "easy way into Heaven," we should examine them a little more closely. The easy way is to love God, which involves keeping the Word of God in every aspect of our lives. The easy way is the way that Jesus shows us. If we are to be truly His disciples and truly love Him, we must deny ourselves daily, take up our crosses, and follow Him. The way of the Cross is the way of Love. The way of the Cross is the easy way into Heaven.

The Holy Ghost does not give us a different doctrine or an easier doctrine. The Holy Ghost inspires love and devotion to the true doctrines that The Word of God, Jesus Christ, has given us.

Just as we are inundated with false Christs, we have false Churches, false priests, false teachings, and false spirits. Many claim to be led by The Spirit, while there is no doubt that they are guided by "a" spirit; however, there is no proof that it is The Spirit of the Holy Ghost.

We must be open to the promptings of the Holy Ghost, but we must also learn to recognize and discern the true promptings of God, The Holy Ghost, from the false promptings of devils, the world, or our fallen natures — who often appear as "angels of light." There is a false "Pentecostalism" infecting the world in our days, and we must be aware and remain free from its contaminations. The true Spirit of God is one and the same as that given to us by Jesus Christ — it is not in a new church or a new spirit. New is not necessarily better, and easier is not always safer. This discernment is a gift from God, empowering us to distinguish truth from deception.

The Holy Ghost inspires love for God and obedience and conformity with the Word of God — Jesus Christ. The love of God must be complete within us — motivating our thoughts, words, and actions. As we honor the coming of the Holy Ghost on Pentecost Sunday, let us remember our Morning Offerings and frequently renew our dedication of all our thoughts, words, and actions throughout the day to the love of God — to His greater honor and glory, and the salvation of our souls as well as all those we encounter. This dedication is not a one-time event, but a daily practice that should be at the forefront of our minds and hearts.

May the Immaculate Heart of Mary inspire, guide, and protect us!