Gospel: John 16:12-15
Jesus said to his disciples:
"I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.
But when he comes, the Spirit of truth,
he will guide you to all truth.
He will not speak on his own,
but he will speak what he hears,
and will declare to you the things that are coming.
He will glorify me,
because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
Everything that the Father has is mine;
for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine
and declare it to you."
This Gospel reading assures us that we have the Holy Spirit to fill in the gaps of what we do not know that Jesus wants us to know. To shed some light on how we learn in the Spirit of Truth, let's refer to the seven sanctifying gifts of the Spirit, as listed in Isaiah 11:2-3.
Wisdom: The wisdom of God is contrary to the wisdom of the world. The Holy Spirit's gift of wisdom helps us detach from the world and cherish only what is of heaven. This wisdom, used in everyday life, is what changes us from our old, pre-converted ways and enlivens us in the ways of Christ.
Understanding: What don't you understand about a Church teaching or the ways of faith? Ask the Holy Spirit for understanding. He will enlighten you and gift you with an understanding that makes sense of the truths of the faith, of God's love, of his plans for you, etc., to the extent that it's necessary for your salvation and your work for God's kingdom.
Counsel: Are you ever indecisive? Hesitant and full of doubts about your current choices or your future? The Holy Spirit guides us and instructs us so that we can make the right decisions. My favorite prayer for this is, "Lord, open the doors of opportunities in the way I should go, and close all doors that lead elsewhere." And he does!
Fortitude: Getting weary from trials? The Holy Spirit gives us supernatural courage to persist and overcome obstacles and difficulties that arise as we follow Jesus in ministry and in our everyday circumstances. From this we learn that we really can trust Jesus and reach a good end despite how bad and lengthy the problems seem.
Knowledge: The Holy Spirit is always available to direct us on the paths we should follow, even supernaturally if necessary. He also points out the dangers to avoid and the goals to reach. Listen to the songs, the scriptures, and the people God puts "coincidentally" into your day. If what they say sounds familiar because the Holy Spirit has already been speaking it to your heart, trust the message.
Piety (godliness): From where does our desire come to embrace a life of holiness or to imitate Christ? From the Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit teaches us how to respond to every situation with holiness.
Fear of the Lord: Once we've been converted, respect for God feels instinctive, doesn't it? That's because it's purely a gift from the Holy Spirit, who teaches us to hate sin. The more enlivened our relationship with the Spirit is, the more we loathe the idea of offending the Lord we love so dearly.
<>< <>< <>< © 2004 by Terry A. Modica