What gets me up earlier on Tuesday than any other day of the week?
Since June 2, my husband Rich and I have settled in at our kitchen table at 7 a.m. with our mugs of coffee, our Bibles, computers, and notebooks, ready to be inspired by Father Jose Maria Cabrera and the Holy Spirit as we participate in his 30-Week virtual Bible study on the Acts of the Apostles.
There is so much information packed into each of these 30-minute classes. We begin with prayer, a volunteer reads the new chapter, and Father Jose follows up with his lesson. Each session deepens our understanding of Scripture, and every week we come away with new insights and a greater appreciation for God's Word.
In the first seven weeks we learned:
- The Pentecost, according to the Acts of the Apostles, was witnessed by a group of about 120 persons in one room. Each was empowered by the Holy Spirit, in the form of tongues of fire to proclaim the Gospel. His strong presence was revealed by signs such as the sound of rushing wind, tongues of fire, bold preaching, and miracles.
- Despite being arrested and jailed more than once, the apostles persisted in spreading the word of God. Just a few weeks before the Pentecost, Peter had cowardly denied Jesus three times. Now, filled with the Holy Spirit, he boldly proclaims God’s word and baptizes many into the early Church!
- Early believers began to trust and support each other financially by selling their belongings and donating the proceeds to the apostles for distribution within the community.
- "The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone…" appears numerous times in the Old and New Testaments. Father Jose brings it to life with a vivid description of the stone at Calvary with accompanying visuals. (See Chapter 6 if you’re watching the replay videos available online.)
- Stephen, one of the first deacons of the new Church, asks God as he is martyred, to forgive his persecutors just as Jesus asked the Father as he died on the cross, to “…forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
As a candidate in the Lay Ecclesial Ministry program, I have participated in several of Father Jose’s classes, which is the reason I knew I wanted to participate in this virtual Bible study. Each session has made me want to learn more.
These classes, with a weekly audience of about 50 people, benefit from Fr. Jose's generous spirit and extensive knowledge of Scripture, his wealth of resources, and his understanding of the Greek and Hebrew texts. His wonderful sense of humor makes learning a joy, and we are incredibly blessed to have this opportunity.
Are you intrigued yet? Get started today by joining us virtually each Tuesday or getting caught up at your convenience online. All the classes are easily accessible on Father Jose’s YouTube channel. They can also be found on the Diocesan website, https://saginaw.org/holy-spirit-year. View past videos here: https://saginaw.org/bible-study-acts-apostles
Bishop Gruss has declared this the Year of the Holy Spirit, and he has challenged each of us to study the Acts of the Apostles. The Holy Spirit is calling. Join us as we study - chapter by chapter - the entire Book of the Acts of the Apostles. I promise you will be inspired and amazed!
Terrie Brown is a parishioner at Holy Spirit Parish in Saginaw, where Fr. Jose will become the new pastor, effective Sept. 7.