Proclaiming the word of God, receiving the Holy Spirit, sacrificing for what is good: The scripture for this week presents some of the great themes of Christian life.

Here’s a preacher’s fantasy, if ever there was one. Newly ordained deacon Philip goes down to Samaria and proclaims Christ to the unsuspecting population. The crowd gives him its unanimous attention—a miracle in its own right. The unclean spirits in the populace flee before the golden words of gospel truth.

“If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you. I will talk to the Father, and he’ll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth.

When I was a child, the Holy Spirit was the one person of the Trinity I didn’t quite get. Though it was a little tough to wrap my head around the idea that God could be three distinct persons at once, I could of course understand the notion of God the Father and God the Son.

Ellie signed on to teach a year in Bolivia. She enjoyed the work, the country, and the people—especially one young man, Oscar, who was intelligent, good-hearted, and handsome.

Jesus is the resurrection and the life. We turn to him for the forgiveness that brings new life.

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.