JOHN 16:12-15
IF YOU WERE TO LOOK AT A HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY, YOU WOULD FIND THAT A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF WRITINGS HAD TO DO WITH THE TRINITY. AND WHEN YOU READ THESE WRITINGS BY SOME OF THE GREATEST MINDS WHO EVER LIVED, YOU ARE LEFT MORE CONFUSED THAN BEFORE. PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT MUCH OF WHAT HAS BEEN WRITTEN AND IS STILL BEING WRITTEN IS BASED ON A WAY OF THINKING THAT STEMS BACK TO PLATO AND ARISTOTLE. AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THAT METHOD MAY HAVE HIT A WALL; AND MAYBE THAT IS THE REASON WE TRY NOT TO THINK OF THE TRINITY. AFTER ALL, THREE PERSONS, ONE GOD; THREE PERSONS WHO ALL SHARE THE SAME WILL, BUT ARE DIFFERENT; THREE PERSONS WHOSE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THEIR MODE OF GENERATION; BUT THEY ARE STILL EQUAL IN ALL OTHER RESPECTS; THREE PERSONS WHO ARE NOT SEPARATE BEINGS, BUT ARE ALSO NOT JUST DIFFERENT WAYS FOR GOD TO BE. WHEN OUR MOSLEM AND JEWISH FRIENDS HEAR THESE THINGS, NO WONDER THEY ARE CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT CHRISTIANS ACTUALLY WORSHIP.
BUT MAYBE WE ARE LOOKING IN THE WRONG PLACE. MAYBE WE ARE TRYING TO GET BACK TO OUR BOOK OF PROVERBS READING WHERE THE AUTHOR IMAGINES WISDOM AS A CHILD WHO WAS THERE AT THE BEGINNING, PLAYING ON THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH, AND FINDING DELIGHT IN THE HUMAN RACE. MAYBE WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THE CROSS.
JESUS SAYS TODAY, “EVERYTHING THAT THE FATHER HAS IS MINE”. OUTSIDE OF TIME, WHERE THERE IS NO BEGINNING NOR END, THE FATHER DOES SOMETHING ONLY GOD CAN DO, WHICH IS TO GIVE HIS ENTIRE SELF, HIS ENTIRE GOD-SELF, TO THE SON. YOU AND I COULD, PERHAPS, GIVE UP OUR LIVES FOR ANOTHER PERSON; BUT WE COULD NEVER GIVE UP OUR VERY SELVES. BUT THE FATHER CAN AND DOES. THE SON IS THEREFORE IDENTICAL TO THE FATHER, EXCEPT THAT HE IS GENERATED BY THE FATHER, WHO HIMSELF IS NOT GENERATED. IN SOME MYSTERIOUS WAY, THAT ACT OF GENERATION, WHICH HAS NO BEGINNING AND NO END, IS THE REASON FOR THE EXISTENCE OF ANGELS, AND OF THE WHOLE UNIVERSE. AS SCRIPTURE TELLS US IN REFERENCE TO JESUS, THE SON, “THROUGH HIM ALL THINGS WERE CREATED”.
BUT THE UNIVERSE IS NOT RIGHT; ON THE WHOLE ALL OF CREATION IS BEAUTIFUL AND WONDERFUL, BUT ULTIMATELY, THE UNIVERSE AND EVERYTHING IN IT WILL COME TO AN END. DEATH IS INSEPARABLE FROM CREATION. WHY IS THIS? WAS IT A REBELLION OF THE FALLEN ANGELS? WAS IT THE FIRST SIN OF ADAM AND EVE? MAYBE IT WAS THE ENTIRE BURDEN OF SIN THAT STARTED WITH ADAM AND EVE; OR MAYBE WE ARE LIVING IN A TIME WHEN THE CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE IS NOT YET COMPLETE, OR, TO PUT IT ANOTHER WAY, NOT REDEEMED.
AND OUTSIDE OF TIME, WHERE THERE IS NO BEGINNING OR END, SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENED; WE HEAR ABOUT IT IN THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS. “ALTHOUGH HE WAS IN THE LIKENESS OF GOD, HE DID NOT DEEM THAT SOMETHING TO BE GRASPED AT, BUT TOOK ON THE LIKENESS OF A SLAVE, AND BECAME HUMAN”. THE SON OF GOD, IN ORDER TO REDEEM THE UNIVERSE, AND ALL THAT IS IN IT, SEPARATED HIMSELF FROM THE FATHER, GAVE UP HIS GOD-SELF, AND MADE HIMSELF ONE WITH SIN AND DEATH. HE CROSSED THE IMMEASURABLE GAP BETWEEN GOD AND HIS CREATION, BECAME A HUMAN BEING, SUFFERED AND DIED, REALLY DIED. I THINK MOST OF US THINK ABOUT THAT TIME BETWEEN DEATH AND RESURRECTION, AND IMAGINE THAT JESUS WAS WANDERING AROUND IN THE LAND OF THE DEAD, GATHERING TOGETHER THE PROPHETS AND PATRIARCHS AND OTHER HOLY PEOPLE WHO HAD LIVED AND DIED BEFORE HE CAME. BUT THEY WERE DEAD, REALLY DEAD, AND JESUS WAS DEAD. BUT THE FATHER WOULD NOT LET HIS SON STAY DEAD, AND GAVE HIS GOD-SELF TO THE SON AND RESTORED HIM TO LIFE.
AND THE FATHER WHO MADE THE UNIVERSE AND THE SON WHO PAID THE PRICE OF REDEMPTION GIVE AWAY THEIR GOD-SELF ONCE AGAIN TO THIS UNIVERSE – AT THE VERY BEGINNING THE SPIRIT BROODS OVER THE WATERS; AND THE SPIRIT CONCEIVES JESUS IN THE WOMB OF MARY; AND THE SPIRIT COMES IN TO THE CHURCH, AND STILL DOES, TO GIVE US A SHARE IN GOD-SELF SO THAT ALL OF CREATION IS GIVEN THE MEANS TO ACCEPT REDEMPTION, TO BECOME WHAT GOD MEANS IT TO BE, THE NEW JERUSALEM. AND EACH OF US WHO POSSESSES THE SPIRIT BECOMES A SON OR DAUGHTER OF GOD, IS GIVEN THE PROMISE OF RESURRECTION AND ETERNAL LIFE, IS GIVEN A SHARE IN GOD-SELF.
YOU AND I LABOR IN TIME; WE CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE TRINITY, OUTSIDE OF TIME, WHERE THERE IS NO BEGINNING NOR END. BUT WE CAN LOOK AT THE CRUCIFIX, AND WE CAN SEE THAT THE SON OF GOD TORE HIMSELF AWAY FROM THE FATHER, GAVE UP EVERYTHING THAT THE FATHER GAVE HIM, SO THAT HE COULD BECOME ONE WITH US, SO THAT HE COULD DIE, AND PUT HIMSELF AND ALL OF US IN THE HANDS OF THE MERCIFUL FATHER. “I WILL TAKE UP LIFE AGAIN ONLY IF YOU RAISE THESE BROTHERS AND SISTERS AS WELL,” HE TELLS THE FATHER. AND JESUS IS RAISED UP, AND IS THE FIRST-FRUITS OF THE PROMISE THAT GOD MADE TO MAN.
AND WHEN WE SEE THE BODY OF JESUS ON THE CROSS, AND WHEN WE KNOW WHAT IT MEANS, OUTSIDE OF TIME, WHERE THERE IS NO BEGINNING OR END, WE BEGIN TO NOTICE A CERTAIN BEAUTY, A BEAUTY THAT CAN TRANSFIX US IF WE LET IT; BEAUTY IS ALWAYS OF GOD, AND IN THE SIGN OF THE CROSS, BEAUTY SHINES FORTH, BEAUTY WHICH IS GLORY.
GOD REVEALS HIS INNER LIFE TO US, EVEN THOUGH WE CAN BARELY BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND IT, BECAUSE THE VERY NATURE OF GOD IS TO GIVE HIMSELF UP, THE FATHER TO THE SON. THE SON TO THE FATHER, AND THE FATHER AND THE SON TO THE UNIVERSE, WHERE GOD-SELF, THE HOLY SPIRIT, ACTS IN OUR LIVES. AND THE GREAT SAINTS UNDERSTOOD THIS; GIVING YOURSELF UP IS THE MOST GOD-LIKE THING YOU CAN DO, WHETHER IT IS THROUGH A SINGLE ACT OF MARTYRDOM, OR THOUSANDS OF LITTLE ACTS OF SELF-GIVING OVER A LIFETIME. SO LOOK AT THE CRUCIFIX AND SEE THE INNER LIFE OF THE TRINITY BURSTING THROUGH INTO OUR WORLD. AND BE CONSCIOUS OF THE GLORY THAT IS REALLY THE BEAUTY OF GOD, THERE MOST ASSUREDLY, BUT IN EVERY ASPECT OF REDEEMED CREATION, AND IN EVERY PERSON. AND WHEN YOU SEE GLORY, REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE SEEING GOD-SELF, WHO IS EVEN IN THAT MOMENT GIVING HIMSELF UP.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Pentecost, cycle C
JOHN 14: 14-16, 23B-26
THE HOLY SPIRIT! ON PENTECOST WE CELEBRATE THE GIVING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THOSE FIRST CHRISTIANS, AND BY EXTENSION WE CELEBRATE THE FACT THAT GOD CONTINUES TO GIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT TO CHRISTIANS DOWN THROUGH THE AGES. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A PERSON, WHICH MEANS TWO THINGS; WE CAN COMMUNICATE WITH HIM, AND HE IS AN ACTOR, NOT ACTED UPON. THAT'S TRUE OF ALL PERSONS, THAT WE ARE ACTORS. BUT WE HUMAN BEINGS ARE ALSO ACTED UPON, THINGS HAPPEN TO US, THINGS CAUSE US TO CHANGE OUR MINDS AND OUR BODIES, AND SOMEDAY THINGS WILL ACT ON US AND CAUSE US TO DIE. THE PERSONS OF THE BLESSED TRINITY ARE NOT LIKE THAT; THEY ARE ALWAYS IN ACTION, THEY ARE ACTION. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE LOVE BETWEEN THE FATHER AND THE SON. OUTSIDE THE TRINITY THE HOLY SPIRIT IS PURE GIFT. HE IS GIFT TO THE CHURCH, AND FORMS AND SUSTAINS THE CHURCH; AND HE IS GIFT TO EACH CHRISTIAN. THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT TODAY – WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ON EACH OF US?
THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS ONE GOAL FOR US. IN BAPTISM HE HAS MADE US INTO SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE FATHER, BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF JESUS, AND HEIRS OF HEAVEN. BUT THAT IS ONLY THE BEGINNING. IF WE WANT TO REALIZE OUR TRUE POTENTIAL, WE HAVE TO COOPERATE WITH GOD'S GRACE. AND THAT IS WHERE THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES IN. HE WORKS WITH OUR HUMAN CAPACITIES TO HELP US MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS, AND TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS. THE FATHERS OF THE CHURCH THOUGHT ABOUT THIS IN TERMS OF SEVEN GIFTS, FOUR OF WHICH HELP US KNOW HOW TO CARRY OUT GOD'S PLAN, AND THREE WHICH HELP US TO ACTUALLY CARRY THEM OUT.
OUR MOTHER MARY WAS PERFECT; UNAFFECTED BY ORIGINAL SIN. YOU AND I MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON EMOTIONS, MOST OF THE TIME. EVEN WHEN WE THINK WE ARE BEING REASONABLE, IF WE REALLY ARE HONEST WITH OURSELVES, WE OFTEN MAKE A DECISION AND THEN THINK OF A REASON AFTERWARDS. AND WHO HASN'T HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF CAREFULLY WEIGHING TWO CHOICES, CHOOSING ONE, AND THEN AT THAT MOMENT KNOWING THAT THE OTHER IS WHAT WE REALLY WANT. SOMETIMES WE ACTUALLY MAKE DECISIONS WITH REASON. WE THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT OUR CHOICES, LISTING PROS AND CONS, AND THEN DECIDING – WITHOUT EMOTION. USUALLY THOSE KINDS OF DECISIONS ARE MADE IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR JOBS. BUT IF WE WERE PERFECT, WITHOUT ORIGINAL SIN, LIVING COMFORTABLY WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, OUR CHOICES WOULD BE MADE BY USING THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT.
MARY HAD THE GIFT OF KNOWLEDGE. WHEN SHE STUDIED THE WORD OF GOD, SHE LEARNED SOMETHING OF GOD'S PLAN FOR MANKIND. THAT IS WHY SHE COULD SAY, IN HER MAGNIFICAT, “HE CASTS DOWN THE MIGHTY FROM THEIR THRONES, AND RAISES UP THE LOWLY.” AND SHE DEVELOPED THIS GIFT; WE LEARN THAT SHE “PONDERED THESE THINGS IN HER HEART” WHEN GOD REVEALED HIS PLAN FOR HER THROUGH SIMEON AT THE PRESENTATION.
SHE HAD THE GIFT OF WISDOM. THIS ALLOWS US TO SEE THE DEEPER MEANING OF THINGS – THE EVENTS OF OUR LIVES, WHAT WE EXPERIENCE. WISDOM REVEALS GOD BEHIND THE BEAUTY OF NATURE. WHEN THE YOUNG COUPLE RAN OUT OF WINE AT THE WEDDING OF CANA, MARY SAW GOD IN HER SON, AND COULD SAY WITH CONFIDENCE, “SON, THEY HAVE NO WINE.”
SHE HAD THE GIFT OF UNDERSTANDING. THIS HELPS US TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN ALL THE DIFFERENT VOICES WE HEAR IN OUR CULTURE, SO THAT WE CAN DISTINGUISH WHAT IS AUTHENTICALLY OF GOD. WHEN JOSEPH WOKE UP FROM A DREAM AND TOLD HER TO PACK UP, THEY WERE LEAVING FOR EGYPT, MARY UNDERSTOOD, AND WENT WITHOUT QUESTION.
SHE HAD THE GIFT OF COUNSEL. THIS HELPS US DISTINGUISH BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG. IT ALSO HELPS US SEE WHAT GOD WANTS FOR US WHEN THERE ARE SEVERAL POSSIBLE CHOICES. MARY COULD HAVE SAID NO, WHEN SHE WAS INVITED TO BE THE MOTHER OF GOD. THERE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN A DOWN SIDE. BUT THE GIFT OF COUNSEL SHOWED HER HOW TO ANSWER THE ANGEL'S INVITATION.
KNOWLEDGE, WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, AND COUNSEL – THESE ARE THE GIFTS FOR THE INTELLECT.
MARY HAD THE GIFT OF PIETY. SHE RECOGNIZED HER TOTAL DEPENDENCE ON GOD, AND HER DUTY TO WORSHIP AND LOVE HIM. SHE ACKNOWLEDGED THIS WHEN SHE SAID, “MY SOUL MAGNIFIES THE LORD, MY SPIRIT REJOICES IN GOD MY SAVIOUR.” IF WE RECOGNIZE OUR TOTAL DEPENDENCE ON GOD, IT CHANGES OUR WHOLE WAY OF LOOKING AT EVERYTHING.
MARY HAD THE GIFT OF “FEAR OF THE LORD”. BASICALLY, THIS MEANS “FEAR OF SEPARATING YOURSELF FROM GOD”. IT IS OUR WILL REACTING TO THE REALITY THAT GOD IS CENTER, AND WE ARE TOTALLY DEPENDENT. AT THE MOMENT OF CONCEPTION, EVEN MORE AT THE MOMENT OF CHRIST'S BIRTH, MARY CHOSE TO LET GOD TAKE OVER HER LIFE. NOTHING SHE COULD WANT, NOTHING SHE COULD DO, WOULD BE MORE THAN DUST IF IT WAS NOT GOD'S WILL.
MARY HAD THE GIFT OF FORTITUDE. SHE SAID TO THE ANGEL, “HOW CAN THIS BE WHEN I DO NOT KNOW MAN?” AND WHEN THE ANGEL ANSWERED, SHE SAID, “LET IT BE DONE TO ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD.” A TEENAGER PREGNANT AND UNMARRIED, WITH A BOYFRIEND WHO WAS THINKING ABOUT NOT MARRYING HER. FORTITUDE IS THE COURAGE TO DO WHAT GOD WANTS, EVEN IF YOU ARE AFRAID, BECAUSE FORTITUDE OVERCOMES FEAR.
PIETY, FEAR OF THE LORD, AND FORTITUDE; THESE ARE THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR OUR WILLS.
THE GIFTS TO THE INTELLECT HELP US USE OUR MINDS TO UNDERSTAND GOD'S WILL FOR US; AND THE GIFTS TO THE WILL HELP US DESIRE WHAT GOD WANTS FOR US. TOGETHER THE GIFTS REALLY MEAN THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IN A MARVELOUS AND MYSTERIOUS WAY HELPS US MAKE CHOICES THAT WOULD BE MADE BY JESUS IF HE WERE IN OUR SHOES. AND THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES THIS WITHOUT COMPROMISING OUR FREE WILLS; HE LEAVES US TOTALLY FREE.
WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. WE CAN IDENTIFY THEM IN OURSELVES, IF WE THINK ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON. WE CAN CHOOSE TO EXERCISE OUR OWN MIND AND WILL SO THAT WE ARE MORE IN TUNE WITH THE GIFTS, WHICH ARE REALLY THE GIFT, THE HOLY SPIRIT HIMSELF. AND OVER TIME, IF WE LISTEN, IF WE LOOK AT HOW WE REACT TO THE IMPULSES IN OUR HEARTS, THE IMPULSES THAT PUSH US IN ONE DIRECTION OR ANOTHER, THE IMPULSES WHICH MOVE US TO DO GOD'S WILL MORE AND MORE PERFECTLY, WE CAN BE MORE IN TUNE WITH THE SPIRIT, WE CAN COOPERATE MORE WITH THOSE GIFTS, WE CAN STRENGTHEN OUR SPIRITUAL SENSES, AND HE CAN CARRY OUT HIS MISSION IN US – TO LEAD US TO OUR SUPERNATURAL DESTINY, TO BECOME OTHER CHRISTS.
THE HOLY SPIRIT! ON PENTECOST WE CELEBRATE THE GIVING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THOSE FIRST CHRISTIANS, AND BY EXTENSION WE CELEBRATE THE FACT THAT GOD CONTINUES TO GIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT TO CHRISTIANS DOWN THROUGH THE AGES. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A PERSON, WHICH MEANS TWO THINGS; WE CAN COMMUNICATE WITH HIM, AND HE IS AN ACTOR, NOT ACTED UPON. THAT'S TRUE OF ALL PERSONS, THAT WE ARE ACTORS. BUT WE HUMAN BEINGS ARE ALSO ACTED UPON, THINGS HAPPEN TO US, THINGS CAUSE US TO CHANGE OUR MINDS AND OUR BODIES, AND SOMEDAY THINGS WILL ACT ON US AND CAUSE US TO DIE. THE PERSONS OF THE BLESSED TRINITY ARE NOT LIKE THAT; THEY ARE ALWAYS IN ACTION, THEY ARE ACTION. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE LOVE BETWEEN THE FATHER AND THE SON. OUTSIDE THE TRINITY THE HOLY SPIRIT IS PURE GIFT. HE IS GIFT TO THE CHURCH, AND FORMS AND SUSTAINS THE CHURCH; AND HE IS GIFT TO EACH CHRISTIAN. THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT TODAY – WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ON EACH OF US?
THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS ONE GOAL FOR US. IN BAPTISM HE HAS MADE US INTO SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE FATHER, BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF JESUS, AND HEIRS OF HEAVEN. BUT THAT IS ONLY THE BEGINNING. IF WE WANT TO REALIZE OUR TRUE POTENTIAL, WE HAVE TO COOPERATE WITH GOD'S GRACE. AND THAT IS WHERE THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES IN. HE WORKS WITH OUR HUMAN CAPACITIES TO HELP US MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS, AND TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS. THE FATHERS OF THE CHURCH THOUGHT ABOUT THIS IN TERMS OF SEVEN GIFTS, FOUR OF WHICH HELP US KNOW HOW TO CARRY OUT GOD'S PLAN, AND THREE WHICH HELP US TO ACTUALLY CARRY THEM OUT.
OUR MOTHER MARY WAS PERFECT; UNAFFECTED BY ORIGINAL SIN. YOU AND I MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON EMOTIONS, MOST OF THE TIME. EVEN WHEN WE THINK WE ARE BEING REASONABLE, IF WE REALLY ARE HONEST WITH OURSELVES, WE OFTEN MAKE A DECISION AND THEN THINK OF A REASON AFTERWARDS. AND WHO HASN'T HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF CAREFULLY WEIGHING TWO CHOICES, CHOOSING ONE, AND THEN AT THAT MOMENT KNOWING THAT THE OTHER IS WHAT WE REALLY WANT. SOMETIMES WE ACTUALLY MAKE DECISIONS WITH REASON. WE THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT OUR CHOICES, LISTING PROS AND CONS, AND THEN DECIDING – WITHOUT EMOTION. USUALLY THOSE KINDS OF DECISIONS ARE MADE IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR JOBS. BUT IF WE WERE PERFECT, WITHOUT ORIGINAL SIN, LIVING COMFORTABLY WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, OUR CHOICES WOULD BE MADE BY USING THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT.
MARY HAD THE GIFT OF KNOWLEDGE. WHEN SHE STUDIED THE WORD OF GOD, SHE LEARNED SOMETHING OF GOD'S PLAN FOR MANKIND. THAT IS WHY SHE COULD SAY, IN HER MAGNIFICAT, “HE CASTS DOWN THE MIGHTY FROM THEIR THRONES, AND RAISES UP THE LOWLY.” AND SHE DEVELOPED THIS GIFT; WE LEARN THAT SHE “PONDERED THESE THINGS IN HER HEART” WHEN GOD REVEALED HIS PLAN FOR HER THROUGH SIMEON AT THE PRESENTATION.
SHE HAD THE GIFT OF WISDOM. THIS ALLOWS US TO SEE THE DEEPER MEANING OF THINGS – THE EVENTS OF OUR LIVES, WHAT WE EXPERIENCE. WISDOM REVEALS GOD BEHIND THE BEAUTY OF NATURE. WHEN THE YOUNG COUPLE RAN OUT OF WINE AT THE WEDDING OF CANA, MARY SAW GOD IN HER SON, AND COULD SAY WITH CONFIDENCE, “SON, THEY HAVE NO WINE.”
SHE HAD THE GIFT OF UNDERSTANDING. THIS HELPS US TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN ALL THE DIFFERENT VOICES WE HEAR IN OUR CULTURE, SO THAT WE CAN DISTINGUISH WHAT IS AUTHENTICALLY OF GOD. WHEN JOSEPH WOKE UP FROM A DREAM AND TOLD HER TO PACK UP, THEY WERE LEAVING FOR EGYPT, MARY UNDERSTOOD, AND WENT WITHOUT QUESTION.
SHE HAD THE GIFT OF COUNSEL. THIS HELPS US DISTINGUISH BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG. IT ALSO HELPS US SEE WHAT GOD WANTS FOR US WHEN THERE ARE SEVERAL POSSIBLE CHOICES. MARY COULD HAVE SAID NO, WHEN SHE WAS INVITED TO BE THE MOTHER OF GOD. THERE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN A DOWN SIDE. BUT THE GIFT OF COUNSEL SHOWED HER HOW TO ANSWER THE ANGEL'S INVITATION.
KNOWLEDGE, WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, AND COUNSEL – THESE ARE THE GIFTS FOR THE INTELLECT.
MARY HAD THE GIFT OF PIETY. SHE RECOGNIZED HER TOTAL DEPENDENCE ON GOD, AND HER DUTY TO WORSHIP AND LOVE HIM. SHE ACKNOWLEDGED THIS WHEN SHE SAID, “MY SOUL MAGNIFIES THE LORD, MY SPIRIT REJOICES IN GOD MY SAVIOUR.” IF WE RECOGNIZE OUR TOTAL DEPENDENCE ON GOD, IT CHANGES OUR WHOLE WAY OF LOOKING AT EVERYTHING.
MARY HAD THE GIFT OF “FEAR OF THE LORD”. BASICALLY, THIS MEANS “FEAR OF SEPARATING YOURSELF FROM GOD”. IT IS OUR WILL REACTING TO THE REALITY THAT GOD IS CENTER, AND WE ARE TOTALLY DEPENDENT. AT THE MOMENT OF CONCEPTION, EVEN MORE AT THE MOMENT OF CHRIST'S BIRTH, MARY CHOSE TO LET GOD TAKE OVER HER LIFE. NOTHING SHE COULD WANT, NOTHING SHE COULD DO, WOULD BE MORE THAN DUST IF IT WAS NOT GOD'S WILL.
MARY HAD THE GIFT OF FORTITUDE. SHE SAID TO THE ANGEL, “HOW CAN THIS BE WHEN I DO NOT KNOW MAN?” AND WHEN THE ANGEL ANSWERED, SHE SAID, “LET IT BE DONE TO ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD.” A TEENAGER PREGNANT AND UNMARRIED, WITH A BOYFRIEND WHO WAS THINKING ABOUT NOT MARRYING HER. FORTITUDE IS THE COURAGE TO DO WHAT GOD WANTS, EVEN IF YOU ARE AFRAID, BECAUSE FORTITUDE OVERCOMES FEAR.
PIETY, FEAR OF THE LORD, AND FORTITUDE; THESE ARE THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR OUR WILLS.
THE GIFTS TO THE INTELLECT HELP US USE OUR MINDS TO UNDERSTAND GOD'S WILL FOR US; AND THE GIFTS TO THE WILL HELP US DESIRE WHAT GOD WANTS FOR US. TOGETHER THE GIFTS REALLY MEAN THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IN A MARVELOUS AND MYSTERIOUS WAY HELPS US MAKE CHOICES THAT WOULD BE MADE BY JESUS IF HE WERE IN OUR SHOES. AND THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES THIS WITHOUT COMPROMISING OUR FREE WILLS; HE LEAVES US TOTALLY FREE.
WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. WE CAN IDENTIFY THEM IN OURSELVES, IF WE THINK ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON. WE CAN CHOOSE TO EXERCISE OUR OWN MIND AND WILL SO THAT WE ARE MORE IN TUNE WITH THE GIFTS, WHICH ARE REALLY THE GIFT, THE HOLY SPIRIT HIMSELF. AND OVER TIME, IF WE LISTEN, IF WE LOOK AT HOW WE REACT TO THE IMPULSES IN OUR HEARTS, THE IMPULSES THAT PUSH US IN ONE DIRECTION OR ANOTHER, THE IMPULSES WHICH MOVE US TO DO GOD'S WILL MORE AND MORE PERFECTLY, WE CAN BE MORE IN TUNE WITH THE SPIRIT, WE CAN COOPERATE MORE WITH THOSE GIFTS, WE CAN STRENGTHEN OUR SPIRITUAL SENSES, AND HE CAN CARRY OUT HIS MISSION IN US – TO LEAD US TO OUR SUPERNATURAL DESTINY, TO BECOME OTHER CHRISTS.
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