I love the readings that the Church gives us in this Easter season - most of them focusing on the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has often been hijacked by crazies to justify every sort of religious experimentation under the Sun, but the readings this week reveal the Truth about the Spirit.
For me, the reading from Monday was especially revelatory for us as Catholics today.
From Acts we read: "Enable your servants to speak your word
with all boldness, as you stretch forth your hand to heal,
and signs and wonders are done
through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
As they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook,
and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and continued to speak the word of God with boldness."
Interesting that the true presence of the Spirit seems to be measured by one thing - boldness. This boldness in proclaiming the Truth of Christ stands in such stark contrast to how many people live out their Christianity - a sort of "I'm okay, you're okay" lukewarm passivity that offends no one, inspires no one and saves no one.
Certainly one can be bold AND do it in an idiotic way, and this is why Saint Paul says if we lack Charity, all is for naught. However, what the reading from Acts makes clear is that if we aren't bold in proclaiming the Truth, then we do not have the Holy Spirit.
I pray for a greater share of the Holy Spirit - "Come Holy Spirit, enkindle in us the fire of your love!"
No comments:
Post a Comment