Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr
When I first wake up in the morning, I lie in bed and think, “OK Lord, what do you want me to do today?” Today’s readings remind me that I am not on my own, when I get up to face the day. The Holy Spirit provides me the wisdom, hope, courage and grace that I need to follow God’s leads. The challenge is to believe and trust in the Spirit particularly when I do not know what lies ahead.
In the first reading, St. Paul tells the Ephesians that he is thankful for the great faith and love that they are living out daily. He realizes that the community needs the Spirit to continue to live as disciples. St. Paul prays that wisdom, knowledge of God, hope, and power in Christ be poured down upon the people of Ephesus. It is the Spirit of God that brings the community together and provides the direction for how they should live out their faith.
In the gospel, Jesus tells His disciples that the Holy Spirit will give them the words to speak when facing the offenses of the world around them. Jesus reminds them that they should not worry, since the Spirit will provide the “defense” they need to speak out in boldness.
Sometimes it seems that this world can be so overwhelming. Before I can throw off the covers and prepare for the day, I recognize my great need for the Spirit. I cannot do this on my own. The wisdom of the Spirit that St. Paul speaks about provides the guidance and discernment on what to do. The knowledge of God allows me to understand in a better way the abundant love and mercy of God, so I can experience this love and then share it with others. The power in Christ is not a power for my glory, but one that allows me to live in a way that others see God’s glory. Christ’s Spirit also provides me with the ability to care for others and the world around me, so that God’s glory can shine in them.
Just recently I was in a position that I needed to share a presentation with a groups of others about an issue regarding global poverty. In a limited time, I needed to provide the information to support the cause. Just before speaking, I read the gospel reading where Jesus reminds us that “the Holy Spirit will teach you that moment what you should say.” I prayerfully trusted that the Spirit would give me the words that allowed me to be the person that spoke out to bring about positive change for others. Once I believed in the work of the Spirit, I could stand back and know that the final outcome of this discussion is all in God’s Hands.
Trusting in the work of the Spirit during the day is a moment to moment experience. Each decision to speak, or not speak, to love or not love, to act or not act, can have an impact on others. Whether it is a family member, friend or stranger, my words, actions and thoughts can be a source of division, or an opportunity to give glory to God. When I start my day mindfully placing the events of the day in the care of the Spirit of God, I recognize that I will not always listen and follow as I am called to lead. However, my intention to be Spirit-inspired comes from a faith that tells me God will be forgiving and merciful when I fail to be like Christ. Similar to all good habits, the more I practice surrendering to the Spirit, the more I will be able to live in that mindset. As St. Paul says in the letter to the Galatians, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ how lives in me.” (GAL 2:20) This is our goal as disciples of Christ, and it is the Spirit within us that allows this transformation to happen.
'Loving Father, Jesus shows us how we are called to love and serve you through our lives. May Your Spirit provide us grace, so our lives can bring Your love and care to the world around us. May all we think, say and do bring you glory. We pray this through Christ, our LORD. Amen.'
- Marylynn Herchline