“It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us.”
When is the last time you said something like that? “It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of me.”
We don’t usually talk like that but it’s a really important point for us who are disciples of Jesus: Do we let his Spirit lead and guide us? Do we let the Spirit form and inform our decisions?
Today in the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, the Apostles must decide about how to deal with those who want to impose Jewish customs and traditions on non-Jews who decide to become Christians. Although the issue may not seem urgent to us nowadays, the example of what the Apostles did to make that decision is key: they didn’t just “go with their gut;” they didn’t simply pick their personal preference; they didn’t pick what seemed most “logical.” Instead, they called on the Holy Spirit to lead and guide them so they could be sure their decision was rooted in God. In a word, they desired to do what God wanted, not what they themselves wanted. And they wanted to do what God wanted because their desire was to make sure that all of their decisions, and all the consequences that would flow from their decisions, would advance the way of Jesus, would continue his work of ushering in the Kingdom of God. They wanted to do God’s will “on earth as it is in heaven.”
So, what about us? What about you and me? Do we call on the Spirit when we have to make some kind of decision—no matter how “basic” or small that decision may seem? Even more, do we seek to let the Spirit guide us? Do we seek to be open to the Spirit dwelling within us, so that everything we do and say is inspired by God?
I must admit I’ve had some conversations and done some things that I can look back on and clearly were NOT Spirit led! And they certainly didn’t reflect here on earth how it is in heaven.
As preacher Charles Stanley said, “God will never direct us to be prideful, arrogant and unforgiving, immoral or slothful or full of fear. We step into these things because we are insensitive to the leadership of the Holy Spirit within us.”
And there’s the point, be sensitive to the leadership of the Holy Spirit within us.
Jesus has promised us that if we love him—that is, if we are truly trying to live his word, his Way, then he and the Father with make their dwelling place in us. And, of course, they dwell in us through their Spirit living in us. And when we live by that Spirit—wow! When we are sensitive to the Spirit’s leadership in us, all things are possible.
As the great monk Thomas Keating, founder of Centering Prayer, said:
“If you accept the belief that baptism incorporates us in the mystical body of Christ, into the divine DNA, then you might say that the Holy Spirit is present in each of us, and thus we have the capacity for the fullness of redemption, of transformation.”
We have the capacity to be transformed into God who is Love. And we have the capacity to transform all things in Love.
So, how do we let ourselves be guided by the Spirit?
First: Keep the words of Jesus. Yes, just as Jesus says in today’s gospel: Keep his word. Put his teachings into practice. Know what Jesus has said and then do it, live it.
Second: because Jesus’ teachings can seem difficult, call on the Spirit—always!
What a great habit it is to begin seeking the Spirit’s leadership, remembering that the Spirit of the Lord is not only all around me but within me.
How good it is to pray often, in the quiet of our hearts, “Come Holy Spirit!” When we pray that, we are not asking the Holy Spirit to come from some distant place and be with us. We are acknowledging the Spirit’s presence already within us and surrendering to that Spirit, letting the Spirit take the lead, before we decide, speak or act. Even if we can’t be sure that every decision, we make is “right,” we can be sure that by calling on the Spirit we are leaving room for God to guide us, for Love to lead the way.
So, for the good of our own lives, for the good of our families, for the good of our parish community, for the good of all our relationships and interactions, let’s follow the example of the Apostles in today’s readings. Let’s be bold enough to ask the Spirit to lead and guide us in all things.
Therefore, now with Saint Augustine, we pray: ‘Come Holy Spirit, you who dwell in my heart. Enlighten all the corners of this dwelling and scatter there your cheerful beams.’
Peace and every good,
Father Liam