The Holy Spirit was everywhere! He was evident in the presentations, the music, the liturgies, the meals we shared, and even in the free time gatherings!
For some time now, I've had a difficult time with how God the Father is often represented in the Old Testament; that is, in references to His "angry, vengeful and wrathful nature, etc.," as well as the violence that He is said to have directed and condoned. I just couldn't see how the Father could be so much different than His eternal Son, Jesus, who is loving, gentle, compassionate, forgiving, patient and humble. I watched videos, read articles, and even spoke to a few persons that I had hoped could give me some sort of plausible explanation for this dichotomy, but I never received an answer that wholly satisfied my dilemma. Then on Tuesday morning, the first full day of the Convocation, after Paco's first presentation, we were given an exercise which consisted of reading John 14, 8-9. We were to use a particular method of looking for "lights" and "graces." "Philip said to him (Jesus), "Lord show us the Father and we shall all be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you say, "Show us the Father?" Now, I had read these verses many times before, however, this time they flew off the page at me like an explosion! Thus I knew immediately that the Father has the same nature as Jesus, WOW.
I still can't explain why many of the writers of the Old Testament represented the Father in such negative terms, but I am no longer concerned about that issue because I know that "The Father and Jesus are One." Amen. After a few minutes we were to report our results of the exercise to our small group (our table group) and when it came my turn to report, I was so emotionally affected by what I had learned that I could barely tell the group my findings due to the crying and sobbing that I was experiencing. I was, and still am, totally convinced that my experience was a revelation from the Holy Spirit. I've told this story to many people now and I still get very emotional when telling it. I'm so thankful to the Holy Spirt for opening my eyes and heart to these words of Jesus.
Jerry T., Our Lady of the Assumption, Westcliffe
Want to learn more about the amazing journey ahead? Visit the Diocese of Pueblo Eucharistic Revival and National Eucharistic Revival websites.
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