Friar’s Corner: Claiming more heavenly treasures
2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16; Psalm 89:2-3, 16-19; Romans 6:3-4, 8-11; Matthew 10:37-42
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God our Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with and fill you more fully.
Returning to my “new flight plan.” Basically, God the Father was working from the time of Adam and Eve at creation and their first sin. That sin of eating the fruit from the one tree God told them not to eat from caused a fallen human nature to be passed on to all humans. Much later the Son of God came to earth taking on a human form in the person of Jesus Christ to correct all sin and offer us a new life.
Pentecost power
Jesus was here only thirty-three years and went back to heaven. Then He and the Father sent us our third helper in the person of the Holy Spirit, which fell on Jesus’ chosen followers in an astounding way. I want to look at power that flows from Pentecost in the Sacrament of Confirmation. Last week I spoke about three theological graces of Faith, Hope and Charity (love). We all received seven powers to live our life on earth, Isaiah 11:2: Wisdom, Understanding, Council, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety and Reverence for God. These help us make wise decisions in living out God’s will for our life.
At the Last Supper, Jesus told His key followers about the major work of the Holy Spirit:
1) He continues to teach us about God’s plans.
2) He reminds us of what Jesus said and did.
3) He witnesses to what comes from God or from the devils.
4) He shows us what is sin, condemnation and judgment.
5) The Holy Spirit guides us through our life so we can help God make the world a better place to live in and at the end of our life takes us to heaven.
The River of Life
Many gifts and powers flow from God in heaven as St. John told us in Revelation 22:1-2, where he said, “Then the angel showed me the river of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God (the Father) and of the Lamb (Jesus) down the middle of the street. On either side of the river were the trees of life, with their twelve crops of fruit, yielding fruit each month. The leaves of the trees are for the healing of the nations.” This water flows into the seven sacraments of Christ’s church and into our daily prayer life. Each sacrament gives us different divine power to live life at a higher level in His kingdom.
I sense joining the church Jesus founded is like joining a country club. Jesus gives us a free paid-up membership card, which He paid for by His death and resurrection. As we use the sacramental gifts, our lives radiate the fruits I listed from Galatians 5:22: love, joy, peace, patient endurance, kindness, generosity, faith, mildness and chastity or self-control, according to our life’s mission. These are a result of living a higher spiritual life more connected to God. The Holy Spirit “melts us, molds us, fills us and uses us” to help others.
Gifts and signs
The first of Paul’s four lists of gifts of the Holy Spirit is found in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11. These come with the Sacrament of Confirmation and we all don’t get the same gifts. There are two teaching gifts: the Word of Wisdom and Knowledge. These clarify God’s life plan. Then there are three sign gifts: Faith, Healing and Miracles. Lastly, we have four Revelation gifts of Prophecy, Discernment of Spirits in the world, Praying in different languages we never studied or learned, and Interpretation of Tongues. Let me offer short definitions.
In Wisdom, the Holy Spirit shows us what to do and not do to bless others.
Knowledge is usually one word, which is revealed information to help guide and heal another person.
This Faith gift is a confidence that when we ask God for something according to His will, He will grant it.
Healing is divine power to correct physical or mental difficulties in a person or group. Jesus did this often.
Miracles are divine power to physically change or move things. This not a physical or mental healing.
Prophecy is God speaking through a person giving direction for what God wants done here and now.
Praying in Tongues or new languages that the person does not know. There are nineteen New Testament texts about this gift, which works in various ways.
Interpretation of a language is almost like a translation of what another person spoke in Tongues, alone and out loud for all to hear, yet neither person knows what was spoken in tongues.
If you want more information about any of these gifts you can email me your questions. Have a wonderful week as you get closer to Jesus, get more of His gifts and bless others.
Have a blessed and fruitful week,
+ Father Bob Hilz
fbhilz@gmail.com
(© 2020 Father Bob Hilz, TOR)
