The teaching on the Holy Spirit continues with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Dr. Schreck also discusses the Holy Spirit's action in the lives of individual Christians and in the Church, as well as how we can recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit in our own lives.

The creeds profess Christian belief in the Holy Spirit, but many do not understand who the Holy Spirit is and his importance in God's plan of salvation and in their lives. In this first of two podcast episodes on the Holy Spirit, Dr. Schreck explores images of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament and how a fuller revelation of the Spirit is given by Jesus and in New Testament writings. The divinity of the Holy Spirit is confirmed by the First Council of Constantinople in 381, as expressed in the Nicene Creed.

After his Resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples until he was taken up to heaven—the Ascension—where he, as the Apostles' Creed professes, "sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty" and "from thence he will come to judge the living and the dead."

Dr. Alan Schreck reflects on the meaning of these events and mysteries of our Christian faith.

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Dr. Alan Schreck begins by summarizing why it was necessary for Jesus to undergo his passion and death.

He explains the meaning and centrality of "the Resurrection of Jesus...the crowning truth of our faith..." (Compendium, 126); "...the fulcrum on which all of Christian faith turns..." (Bishop Robert Barron, What Christians Believe, p.71).

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How does the death of one person more than 2,000 years ago atone for sins the whole human race and reconcile us with God?

Dr. Alan Schreck explains four ways Catholic theology has sought to understand this mystery of Christ's saving work, as well as the burial of Jesus and what he accomplished when he "descended into hell."

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The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “The Paschal Mystery of Jesus… stands at the center of the Christian faith because God’s saving plan was accomplished once for all by the redemptive death of his Son Jesus Christ” (112).

Dr. Alan Schreck describes the first stages of this event, from the beginning of Holy Week to Jesus’ Agony in the Garden on Holy Thursday.

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What does God “look like”?

Jesus says simply: “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father… I am in the Father and the Father is in me” (Jn. 14: 9–10).

Jesus is one with the Father (Jn. 10:30), and he is also the way to the Father. That way is discipleship. Dr. Alan Schreck discusses what it means to be a disciple of Jesus: its necessity, its joy, and the sacrifice and suffering—the cross—it requires.

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Jesus' "hidden life" ends and his public ministry begins with his baptism in the Jordan River by John. Jesus' proclamation that "the kingdom (or reign) of God is at hand" is the key to his mission and ministry.

But what is this kingdom, and how does Jesus bring it about?

Listen to more The Spirit and The Bride episodes and discover other Catholic podcasts, videos, and resources at Faith and Reason.