Opening Ourselves to the Holy Spirit

Prayer-Soldier

Opening Ourselves to the Holy Spirit

Scripture:

And when the days of the Pentecost were accomplished, they were all together in one place: And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming: and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them parted tongues, as it were of fire: and it sat upon every one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit: and they began to speak with diverse tongues, according as the Holy Spirit gave them to speak. Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. And when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded in mind, because that every man heard them speak in his own tongue. And they were all amazed, and wondered, saying: Behold, are not all these that speak Galilean? And how have we heard, every man our own tongue wherein we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews also, and proselytes, Cretes, and Arabians: we have heard them speak in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.
(Acts 2:1-11)

No man can say The Lord Jesus, but by the Holy Spirit. Now there are diversities of graces, but the same Spirit. And there are diversities of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but the same God, who works all in all. And the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man unto some benefit. For as the body is one and has many members; and all the members of the body, whereas they are many, yet are one body: So also is Christ. For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether bond or free: and in one Spirit we have all been made to drink.
(1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13)

If you love me, keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father: and he shall give you another Paraclete, that he may abide with you for ever: Jesus answered and said to him: If any one love me, he will keep my word. And my Father will love him and we will come to him and will make our abode with him. He that loves me not keeps not my words. And the word which you have heard is not mine; but the Father?s who sent me. These things have I spoken to you, abiding with you. But the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you.
(John 14:15-16, 23-26)

Reflection:

In our modern day, we take our technology for granted. Events are transmitted around the world in seconds and microseconds. We have multiple means through which we may write to or speak with one another. As thoughts come to us, we are able to share them with the world, but with all the clutter of all who write or speak, perhaps the question we might ask is who will notice, who will hear?

It might be difficult for us to imagine how news of the cross spread throughout the world in a time without phones, television, computer networks, or social media. What was witnessed by a relative few was not spread via the range of communications available to us in our day, rather, it was spread from heart to heart and from generation to generation.

God has spoken to us through His angels and His prophets. He even sent us His only begotten Son so that we might hear, learn, and comprehend the blessings of His Word. Through many forms Jesus spoke so that all who heard with hearts open to Him would receive the blessings of the Word made Flesh. Time is the test of what He teaches, for while the musings of the ideologies of people come and go, the wisdom taught to us by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is the eternal wisdom of eternal love.

If we allow, this love which Jesus taught, may flow through our hearts, not only for our blessing, but the blessing of all who cross our path. This love turns us away from the temptations which lead us to harm our relationship with God, our relationships with one another, as well as to harm ourselves. It is the love which works through many hands, which works through both the mighty and the lowly. It is the love by which we may share our days in happiness and by which we may help one another as we navigate trials and afflictions.

If we love the One who laid down His life for us in sacrifice for our sins, then, we demonstrate that love through the love which we share in the ways that He teaches. He told us that all the law and all the prophecy depends upon our love of God and our call to love one another. (cf. Matthews 22:36-40) If we understand this, then, we must use what Jesus taught as our guide towards the fulfillment of the greatest of commandments, the commandments to love. Indeed, Jesus tells us, the world will know His disciples by their love. (cf. John 13:35)

The problems we see across the world are not generated by our love for one another, but are the product of selfish ways and the choices we make in opposition to our call to love God and one another. If we ask the Holy Spirit to be our guide, then, He will instruct our hearts in the ways of love and selfless service through which we all can work together to make the world as God desires for us, a place where all may share in the blessings of love. If we open our heart to Him, He will help us see the path to all which is right and just.

Questions for further reflection:

In what ways may we listen for the Holy Spirit?

In what ways do we open ourselves so the Holy Spirit lead us?

In what ways may we share the blessings to which the Holy Spirit guides us?

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier