Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 353 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30308 Phone: (404) 522-6800

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

353 Peachtree Center Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: (404) 522-6800
​The main reason that Jesus shares his Spirit with us is so we can imitate his habitual forgiveness of sin. St. John the Evangelist clarifies this with Jesus’ own words: “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” For St. John, this means all his followers. Jesus’ instruction is not just for the leaders of the community; all Christians are expected, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to forgive the people around them.

St. Paul also says that everyone receives gifts from the Spirit to be used for the common good. His belief that the Spirit is free to give gifts to whomever the Spirit wishes and this is an echo of Jesus’ own refusal to deny God’s love to anyone, good or bad. Jesus often reminded his followers that God causes rain to fall on both the good and the bad.

http://www.sacredheartatlanta.org/