[Pearls Episode 145: Preparing for Sunday.]
This Sunday is the last Sunday in Ordinary Time. After that it’s Christ the King of the Universe, and then Advent and then the plump jolly guy coming down the chimney.
In these final weeks of Ordinary Time we’ve been focusing on the apocalyptic tone of the readings – the weighty business of the end of the world and our own end. Given the unhinged state of the world around us, this becomes more and more relevant (we’ll look more at that in our Tuesday message).
But this weekend’s readings go a long way to remove the weight of the world. And not in some hand-waving, superficial, “it will all work out” way of things – but in very practical terms. The scriptures assure us that the world is a mess, but they also show us one way God will care for us is through the action of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
We’ve looked at the Gifts before – which is one of the blessings of following the wisdom of the liturgical seasons and Sunday readings – the topics of the spiritual life repeat themselves so that we can deepen our experience of them.
The Gifts are like virtues, but operating at a higher level. Our activity is primary for growing in the virtues; while they are gifts from God (grace…), they are dependent on our choice to use them so that they become active and habitual in us. For example, God will give us the virtue of hope, but it is up to us to choose to put it to use when trials arise.
The Gifts are different. The motor cause of the Gifts is the Holy Spirit. A timeless analogy is that of a sailing ship. A ship without the Gifts is a ship without sails. If a wind comes the ship might move a little, but aimless and slow. But with sails (Gifts) opened and properly aligned the wind propels the ship forward.
The virtues and Gifts work together to help us follow God’s will for our lives. He never forces His will upon us. He is always gentle; He works with us through the virtues and Gifts. It is like how we interact with children. Children always want to help us, which is wonderful! And we let them, as we should. Some things they are able to do mostly themselves, and this is analogous to us practicing virtue. But often we need to step in and do things for our children, and this is analogous to the Gifts of the Spirit.
On Monday we’ll look specifically at the seven Gifts of the Spirit. A suggestion to have in mind this weekend, is that one of the best ways to cultivate the Gifts is docility. Docility is an underappreciated supervirtue (OK, we made that term up). At its simplest is a willingness to learn. But it also implies interior silence and humility and detachment (so that we can hear God and accept His promptings over our own desires). The Catholic Encyclopedia echoes the wisdom of the ages, “Progress in holiness ultimately depends on docility to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit.”
Not sure if the Holy Spirit has anything to say to you? Try this, this weekend – when you offer your day to the Lord in the morning, include a request for God to guide you – “Lord, help me to hear Your will for me today.” And during the day, if there are moments where you are uncertain how to respond to a situation, trustingly pray “Come, Holy Spirit” and then act. Finally, at the end of the day, review your day with the Lord and ask Him to show you how He was speaking to you (which is another way of asking how He was loving you that day…).
Blessings on your journey with Christ –
Steve and Karen Smith
Interior Life
Postscript: Sunday scripture readings and the Gifts.
READING 1 – Malachi 3:19-20a
Lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven, when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire, leaving them neither root nor branch, says the LORD of hosts.
But for you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays.
GOSPEL – Luke 21:5-19
While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, “All that you see here– the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”
Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?”
He answered, “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’ Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.”
Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.
“Before all this happens, however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”