This weekend we celebrate Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles, Mary, and the disciples. They spent 9 days in the Upper Room preparing for the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Apostles received what they were missing before going out into the world, that is the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
  Pentecost is often referred to as the birthday of the Church, as this was the first day of the Church as we know it. It was also the first day that the Church began to beget souls and increase in number, as we are told 3,000 souls were added to the Church that day.
  What the Apostles experienced is what we experience at Confirmation. As the Mass re-presents to us what happened at Calvary, Confirmation re-presents to us what happened in the Upper Room. We are given what we need to go out into the world, just like the Apostles did. We have nothing to be afraid of. No person, group, government, or even death itself should strike fear into the hearts of Christians. Jesus is at our side, and the Holy Spirit has given us His gifts to be disciples into the world. What is lacking is us. We lack faith and trust in God, and so we do not allow the gifts of His Spirit to become real and activated in our lives. What is lacking is our participation, or lack thereof, in the grace that God gives to us.
  The old Baltimore Catechism states that the confirmed become soldiers for Christ. What does this mean? It means that this life can be a battle, and so we are to fight for Christ and the Church. We are not to lay down. We are to stick up for our God who died for us. The Holy Spirit has given us what we need. May we stand up for the Church in our conversations. Even if we don’t know the right thing to say, let us say something to defend Jesus and His Church. This is what it means to be soldiers for Christ.
  How awesome it is to think about a worldwide army of Catholics standing up for Jesus Christ and His Church?! Jesus tells us to not be afraid. The Holy Spirit comforts and assures us if we trust Him. Jesus fought for us in His Death and Resurrection, so let us return the favor and fight for Him.