Friar’s Corner: Gifts of prayer and prophecy
Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR
Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8; Psalm 138:1-5, 7-8; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 or 3-8 and 11; Luke 5:1-11
Let us again ask the Holy Spirit to expand our mind with his understanding: “Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of truth, who are everywhere present and fill all things, treasury of blessings and giver of life, come and increase Your presence within us, cleanse us of all stain (sin) and save us, O gracious Lord.” Holy Spirit, please expand our horizons.
The readings this weekend point to Jesus as greater than the prophet Jeremiah and all of the other prophets. Jesus fulfilled all the Old Testament expectations of a Messiah.
In Luke’s gospel today, 5:1-11, Jesus preached from Peter’s boat because of the large crowd. First, he gave his fishermen a large catch of fish. Then he commissioned them to “catch” men and women for his new way of life. Thousands today continue that assignment all over the world preaching Jesus Christ as the only savior of the human race.
The greatest gift
I continue my comments on the second reading from St. Paul’s Corinthian letter on the gifts. We read from 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, 12:28, 13:4–8 on the greatest gift of love, yet this week we skip two major gifts in chapter 14 and go to chapter 15. Why? Because after almost two thousand years most in our church still don’t understand what Paul wrote about in praying in new languages and giving prophecies. So get on your skateboard and let’s go.
The Son of God came to earth to show us how much God loves each of us. He came to teach us how to love as God wishes; to heal us and to die on the cross to forgive our sins and bring us into his kingdom as the Holy Spirit leads us to heaven. After Jesus went back to heaven, he and his Father empowered his closest followers on Pentecost with divine power in the Holy Spirit. His major work is to teach us God’s truth, to instruct and remind us of all that Jesus did and told us and to lead us through this confusing world to heaven. The Holy Spirit was put in charge of the church until the end of time and he is still working.
The gift of prayer
In Romans 8, St. Paul shows us how the Holy Spirit moves us from our fallen human nature of sin to God’s kingdom. His work is mentioned nineteen times in that one chapter. Romans 8:26-27 Paul tells us that we do not know how to pray as we should but the Holy Spirit intercedes for us as God wills.
At the end of the New Catechism, there are seventy pages about most of the types of Christian prayer. In 1 Cor 14 St. Paul explained how the Holy Spirit prays through us. When you take that chapter and list the sentences about praying in new languages (tongues) we never learned, on one side of the page and in the second side of the page, put the instruction about hearing and giving prophetic messages, a new word from God, we learn more of how these two gifts work.
Praying in tongues
There are twelve definitions about praying in tongues and there are seven other places in the New Testament about this gift. Yet these instructions are not understood or shared. With this gift we give our speech mechanism over to the Holy Spirit and he prays through us in new, angelic or human languages. St. Paul uses different words to describe the event: Speaks in a new tongue six times, praying one time, praising God two times, giving thanks once and talking two times, as we speak in new languages. These are languages, not pre-baby talk or gibberish.
As this gift develops in us we can recognize sentence structure and we don’t have to go to language class and memorize the vocabulary and grammar. This is a pure gift of prayer and intercession for others and world situations for whatever our Father wants to do. The Holy Spirit is praying through us.
Filled with divine power
The major ideas Paul gave us are simple. When we pray this way, we are speaking to God and no one understands unless someone knows that language. We are uttering mysteries in the Holy Spirit, verse 2. I have recognized Latin, French and Greek. Who knows how many languages are spoken on earth today or how many angelic languages there are, v 5?
When we pray this way, we are being built up or filled up with divine power, v4. Before we humanly speak we quickly think before the words come out of our mouth. However, when we pray in tongues we do not know what we will or are saying. Sometimes we praise and give God thanks for his gifts and blessings. Often we are praying for so many situations.
This gift can also be a sign for unbelievers, though they are often puzzled. So we need to explain this gift to them and these twelve definitions are helpful for our understanding of this mystery.
The gift of prophecy
On the other hand, the gift of prophecy is the Holy Spirit speaking through a person to another person or group, words of encouragement or direction usually spoken in the first person singular. It is usually one person of the Holy Trinity speaking and you can tell which one it is by the sentences. It can also be a faint picture in your mind of something helpful for the person you are praying with for their growth and understanding. It may not make sense to you but will to the other person. We need to hear God‘s direction today.
Over many years I have put together teaching sheets to explain these mysteries. They are part of a book I am putting together. I have two sheets for you. One is 1 Corinthians 14 in two columns, tongues and prophecy. Then I offer the New Testament list of all the texts on praying in tongues. I also want to send along Fr. Bob DeGrandis’ points about prophetic messages. I offer them in RTF format, which should be helpful for printing them out. I did not learn these elements in my seminary training. It took me 1 ½ years to really yield to praying in tongues. I first had to study the texts and yield my understanding and will to God’s will.
It really is easy. You just turn on an internal switch within you and let the Holy Spirit pray what is needed at that moment. Please request these teachings by emailing me at fbhilz@gmail.com or Nancy Ward at nancyhcward@verizon.net
I love praying and singing in the various languages I have. What will it be like praising and worship God in heaven with all the other angels and saints? It is nice now. In heaven it must be glorious. Stand under the spout where the glory comes out.
Have a great week, as I shall be praying for you.
Peace and all good,
+ Fr. Bob Hilz
fbhilz@gmail.com
