. . . meditations on the Gospel of Luke . . .

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Luke 12: 8 – 12 Holy Spirit, Part II

Luke 12: 8 – 12 Holy Spirit, Part II

Coincidentally, (or not) I have come across a passage from 1 Corinthians about the Holy Spirit. I heard this scripture when I attended mass on a Wednesday morning recently – something I had not done literally for months. (So I guess I was meant to hear it.) The specific verses were 1 Corinthians 2:6- 16. The passage began with a definition of True Wisdom. True Wisdom, St. Paul says, is not a wisdom that can be found in this age, and it is hidden from most. How do we perceive True Wisdom? It is revealed to us through the Spirit which is God’s spirit. What the Spirit calls us to do - concerning loving our neighbor, being merciful and forgiving, being generous and trusting, seeking justice, etc. may make no sense by the world’s current standards. In that light such behavior is absurd. By being blessed and baptized with God’s Spirit, accepting it, by asking for the ability and wisdom to develop and strengthen and utilize the gifts of the Spirit (wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and awe/fear of the Lord), we put on the mind of Christ. This feels like a “eureka” moment to me. Accepting that I have God’s spirit in me, strengthening my understanding of my spiritual gifts and utilizing them for the good of others – that sounds like what I am/what we are meant to do. Maybe that is why Jesus is so harsh about those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit – God’s spirit/presence on earth in men and women.
?? Is this an argument for a more personal faith and meant to be a counterbalance to the church??

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