Gift of the Spirit: Wisdom 

• Bulletin Announcements
• Prayers of the Faithful
• Prayer for the Month
• Homily Helps
• Saints of the Month
• Video Resources for Students
• Activities for the Fruit of Joy
• Activities for Activating the Gift of Wisdom

Joy - Joy comes from knowledge of and full trust in God’s personal love and mercy for us. The state of being we call joy is not to be confused with feelings of happiness. The state of being of joy remains with us despite all adversity and difficulties. It can even exist while we experience feelings of unhappiness or sadness. Happiness is a feeling and feelings are temporary states of being which ebb and flow under various conditions, some of which can even be physiological in nature. I can be happy because I’m eating pizza, or in front of a warm, cozy fire on a cold, rainy night, or watching a funny comedian tell jokes. Joy, on the other hand, is an abiding sense of well-being rooted in the knowledge that I haven’t a care in the world because I have God’s love, and no matter what happens to me, even maltreatment, persecution, sickness or death, because I trust in his love, and know I was created for Him, by Him to be with Him in all eternity. 

Wisdom -  Solomon when he could have had any gift from God, and could have requested anything, requested wisdom.  This is more than being smart, more than containing information, or even having the right answer.  Wisdom is the ability to see with the eyes of God.  When we pray for the gift of Wisdom we are asking to see as God sees, to know as He knows, and to make decisions as He would.  In all of our decision, in all choices we make we should seek and beg for the gift of Wisdom.

 

• May the people of God in the Diocese of Kalamazoo be granted the fruit of joy, that by living out this life of joy others may know and come to love Jesus Christ. 

• May the Holy Spirit come down upon the faithful in the Diocese of Kalamazoo and may they be given the gift of wisdom that all their choices may bring about the kingdom of God. 

• May the gift of wisdom be given to all those in positions of authority, that they may govern well in all things. 

• May the Holy Spirit give the fruit of joy to encompass the entire diocese.   

• May all the faithful seek and earnestly ask for the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit. 

• May this Jubilee Year of the Holy Spirit bring a New Pentecost down upon the Diocese of Kalamazoo. 
  
  

(used to close out Cenacle and can be used in other applications) 

Heavenly Father, you have given your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ reign over your Kingdom, through his intercession you have sent forth your Spirit through Mary and the Apostles to begin the work of your Church and to renew the face of the earth. Through that same Spirit, we ask you to renew the Church throughout the world, but especially in our own diocese of Kalamazoo. In this month, we especially ask that your Spirit bear to fullness in us, the fruit of charity in our hearts. Bring to each of us ample opportunities throughout the month to exercise this virtue, such that by its daily practice, it may blossom into persevering habit. We ask this through the same Christ, Our Lord, Amen. 

September 19, 2021 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time 

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091921.cfm 

Focus on Gift of Wisdom 

Kerygmatic preaching: “You do not possess because you do not ask.  
You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” In Do we actually ask God for His gifts?  Do we ask for our own good or for the good of His kingdom?  We must ask for the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  During this Jubilee Year of the Holy Spirit, we are focusing on different gifts each month, this month is wisdom.  James tells us today that the wisdom from above is pure.  We need to seek the wisdom from above in all our choices and decisions.   

Three Points:  

1. Wisdom helps us to see with the eyes of God.  To know as He does, and choose as He does. 

2. Wisdom helps us to make decisions, so that for every choice we must make we can make the decision that will best further the kingdom of God. 

3. We must pray for these gifts in earnest, not so we may be praised but so we might bring about the kingdom of God. 
   
   

Saint of the Month exemplifying the fruit of Joy: Saint Philip Neri  

Link to information on St. Philip Neri: St. Philp Neri: Patron of Joy 

Video resources 
4th grade and below here:Story of St.Philip Neri  
5th grade and up here: Saint Philip Neri 
 

Saint of the Month exemplifying the gift of Wisdom: Pope St. Gregory the Great 

Link to information on Pope Saint Gregory the Great: Pope Saint Gregory the Great 

On Joy 

• Grades Pre-K thru 1st: Joy--The fruit of the Spirit for Kids 
• Grade 2-3: The Fruit of the Spirit Joy (Micha’s Super Vlog) 
• Grades 5-6: The Fruit of the Spirit- Joy 
• Grades 7-9: How to Find Joy--Jon Jorgenson 

• Grades Pre-K thru 1st: The Story of King Solomon 
• Grades 2-3: King Solomon's Famous Judgment 
• Grades 4-6: The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit-Wisdom Bishop Boyea 
• Grades 7-9: The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit- Wisdom Bishop Boyea 
• Grades 10-12: Gifts of the Holy Spirit-Wisdom Prof Susan Timoney 

Note to Parents/Catechists/Teachers: 
Although the Catechism of the Catholic Church does not specifically discuss the fruit of joy, it is listed as one of the 12 fruits of the Spirit. Yet, one of the defining characteristics of the Saints was their spirit of joy. Joy is fruit of a fruit. It is the fruit of charity and peace, which are both fruits of a strong relationship with Our Lord, Jesus Christ. To develop our relationship with Christ, we first must know Him. To know him, we must prayerfully read the gospels, through which he is revealed to us in his words, teachings, and actions. We cannot know or love God if we do not do His will (1 John 2:2-5), and we cannot do His will if we do not know what his will is, and we cannot know his will if we do not read His Word.  
          
Joy comes from knowledge of and full trust in God’s personal love and mercy for us. The state of being we call joy is not to be confused with feelings of happiness. The state of being of joy remains with us despite all adversity and difficulties. It can even exist while we experience feelings of unhappiness or sadness. Happiness is a feeling and feelings are temporary states of being which ebb and flow under various conditions, some of which can even be physiological in nature. I can be happy because I’m eating pizza, or in front of a warm, cozy fire on a cold, rainy night, or watching a funny comedian tell jokes. Joy, on the other hand, is an abiding sense of well-being rooted in the knowledge that I haven’t a care in the world because I have God’s love, and no matter what happens to me, even maltreatment, persecution, sickness or death, because I trust in his love, and know I was created for Him, by Him to be with Him in all eternity. God’s eternal love is my destiny, he will draw me to my final destiny with Him. Few of us trust God that much. Are you one of them? If not, why not? Take that to prayer to answer, and ask the Holy Spirit to correct it in you, and be open to what He tells you. This month, we ask the Holy Spirit to bear within us the fruit of Joy.   
 
Grades Pre-K through 1: 
1. Tell or read to your child(ren) the story of Pentecost (Acts 2). Watch video together at link here: Pentecost for Kids: The Holy Spirit Comes  
2. Draw a picture of the Holy Spirit descending upon the Apostles in the Upper Room in Jerusalem. Hang it on the refrigerator or other prominent place for the month.  

Grades 2-3: 
1. Read to or have your child read the story of Pentecost (Acts 2). How did the Holy Spirit make the apostles wise? How did the Holy Spirit change the apostles from the way they were before the Holy Spirit descended upon them to the way they became afterwards? 
2. Explain to them that the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5: 22-23) are a group of qualities, characteristics or signs exhibited in a person’s life that show the Holy Spirit is living and active within them.  
3. Explain that our bodies are “temples of the Holy Spirit” and that the Holy Spirit is given to us when we are baptized and strengthened in us when we are confirmed.  
4. Explain to them the fruit of Joy as the fruit of our love for God. By opening our hearts to God and having full faith and trust in him, the Holy Spirit, who lives within us, makes our hearts on fire with joy of God will enter our hearts and remain with us for as long as we actively trust in God.  
5. Have them tell you instances of when they felt joy. Be sure to distinguish between joy (which abides long term within us as a state of being, and happiness, which is a temporary feeling).  

Grades 4-6:  
1. Read the story of Pentecost (Acts 2). Write a 100-200 word summary of the event. 
2. Read the Gospel of the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time which can be found at the link here: Readings for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B. Reflect on the man who was deaf and could not speak well (because he could not hear what he was saying). What would this be like? After perhaps suffering a lifetime of this and finally being healed, how would you react? In what ways would you strive to repay God for this gift of healing? 

Grades 7-9:  
1. Read the story of Pentecost (Acts 2). Write a 200-300 word essay that compares and contrasts how Peter changed as a result of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost,  
2. Read the Gospel of the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time which can be found at the link here: Readings for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B. Reflect on the man who was deaf and could not speak well (because he could not hear what he was saying). What would this be like? After perhaps suffering a lifetime of this and finally being healed, how would you react? In what ways would you strive to repay God for this gift of healing?  

Grades 10-12: 
1. Read the Passion Narrative of the Gospel of St. John (John 19:19-20:18).  Spend 10 minutes in prayer and reflection on this reading specifically asking the Holy Spirit to help you better understand and how to grow in your relationship with Christ.  Listen carefully to what comes to your mind in this regard. Remain listening for this silent voice throughout the month and what he puts into your mind. The suggestions will often be subtle and you will be quick to dismiss them in favor of some other meaningless distraction, so pay attention. God does not force our hands and is not “in our face” and he will step away from us quickly if we dismiss His thoughts to us.  Look for opportunities to practice this virtue in concrete ways throughout the month, especially in people you run across throughout the day.  Joy is the fruit of relationship with Christ and comes about when we understand his great love and mercy for us.  

Adult: 
1. Read through the note to parents/catechists and teachers above.  
2. Take five minutes to watch the following video: Pentecost Novena: Fruits of the Holy Spirit-Joy. 
3. Spend 15 minutes in prayer and reflection specifically asking the Holy Spirit to help you better understand and how to live the virtue of joy in your practical everyday life. Listen to what comes to your mind in this regard.  Remain listening for this silent voice throughout the month and what he puts into your mind. The suggestions will often be subtle and you will be quick to dismiss them in favor of some other meaningless distraction, so we listen carefully. God does not force our hands, is not “in our face”, and he will step away from us quickly if we dismiss His thoughts to us.  Look for opportunities to practice this virtue in concrete ways throughout the month, especially in people you run across throughout the day. 

Grades Pre-K and K: 
Read the story of King Solomon’s decision when two women claimed to be the mother of an infant in 1 Kings 3:16-28 to your child(ren/students. Print out the following coloring page at this link: Wisdom of King Solomon Coloring Page Printout. Have your child(ren)/students color the page and post it somewhere prominently for the month as a reminder of the story to ask he Holy Spirit for the gift of Wisdom each day this month. 
 
Grades 1-3: 
Read the story of King Solomon’s decision when two women claimed to be the mother of an infant in 1 Kings 3:16-28. Print out the following activity page at this link: Wisdom of King Solomon Worksheet. Have your child(ren)/students complete the activity, then color the page and post it somewhere prominently for the month as a reminder of the story to ask he Holy Spirit for the gift of Wisdom each day this month. 
 
Grades 4-6:  

 
Grades 7-9: 
Watch the video for your age category above. Read two chapters of the Book of Sirach each night throughout the month and ask the Holy Spirit to activate the Gift of Wisdom within you. At the end of your prayer to the Holy Spirit, say, “Our Lady Seat of Wisdom, Pray for me.” 
 
Grades 10-12: 

 
Adult 
Watch and reflect on the video on the Charismatic Gifts of the Holy Spirit here: Charismatic Gifts-Dr. Brant Pitre. Note the difference between the Charismatic Gifts which are oriented toward the conversion of others and bringing others to Christ vs. the traditional Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit which are oriented toward the building up of oneself, but are ultimately also used for the building up of others.