Friar’s Corner: The Holy Spirit prays for God’s will
Wisdom 12:13, 16-19; Psalm 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16; Romans 8:26-27; Matthew 1324-30
“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 and save us o gracious Lord.” This is the Holy Spirit prayer that the Eastern churches pray before all the sacraments.
I sensed a few months ago that I am, in a sense, your pastoral guide. I don’t see jumping around with various themes from the Sunday readings, but rather a “flight plan” for those of us flying over our country pouring out more of God’s merciful blessings. It has been my pastoral plan after Pentecost to look at some of the many gifts or treasures that Holy Spirit gives us so we can build up those around us, in our family, work, parish or country. If you watch the news, we and the world have been and still are in crisis. We will never be able to go where we were three months.
Gifts of the Spirit
Four weeks ago, June 21, FC # 997, I shared the ten gifts we all received from the Holy Trinity at our Baptism. We all received all of them. I think of them as a “paid-up credit card” for all the things that God wants to give us in His Kingdom. Jesus paid all the bill by His death and resurrection. At infant baptism, our parents received them for us then. Sometimes in our adult life, we must make our own commitment to know and follow Jesus in His new kingdom. Each sacrament in God’s kingdom offers us a different set of operating gifts for personal growth and adult ministry for others.
The following week, June 28, I opened up for you nine new gifts that God offers us in the sacrament of Confirmation for ministry with others. We are offered those gifts and need to grow in their understanding and use. The next list of gifts offered at Confirmation is also found in 1 Corinthians but down in verse 28. The gifts listed there are “upper-level ministries,” which are mostly paid service to a parish or institution. They are Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, Miracle workers, Healers, Assistants, Administrators and those who speak in tongues. This last one is not a paid ministry. It is offered to almost everyone who is confirmed.
There are nineteen texts in the New Testament describing this gift, and most have never heard of or know how to receive and use them. The ones earlier in this list have slightly different names today, like cardinals, bishops, pastors, parish priests, teachers and administrators of various parts of a parish, hospital or school. These positions are easier to understand. Rome does not send the parish money for these expenses. It is part of parishioner contributions. Unfortunately, none of these gifts are mentioned in the scripture readings on Pentecost. No wonder most Catholics don’t have the foggiest understanding about them.
Life in the Spirit
We need the special light of the Holy Spirit usually received in the “Life in the Spirit” Seminar, which incorporated what is called the “Baptism in or of the Holy Spirit.” It is like He turns on the lights of understanding in our brains. Then we become more amazed at what God is doing insider us. Because most clergy and Roman administrators aren’t “baptized in the Holy Spirit,” they don’t understand and can’t write or teach others about these things.
This is so important for our growth and the understanding of others about key elements of our faith. I can’t skip what St. Paul says in two sentences in the second reading, Romans 8:26-27: “The Holy Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit because He intercedes for the holy ones (us) according to God’s (the Father’s) will.”
As we watch or listen to the “bad” news, some of us want to pray but don’t know how to pray for those situations. We groan or moan. That is one way to understand, yet for those “baptized in the Holy Spirit,” the Holy Spirit prays through us in various languages that we never learned. We just pray or sing in those new languages. If you want a list of the New Testament texts, I can send them to you.
Some feel I say too much, so I shall stop here and continue next week. In the gospel today, Jesus tells the story of the farmer who planted good wheat in his field. As it grew, they noticed weeds growing. Jesus told them not to pull up the weeds because some of the good wheat will be lost. Are there not good Catholics and Christians all over the world using their gifts to bless others? Yes, there are. Yet we see so much death, destruction and evil everywhere. Why are we killing each other? We are all children of the true God of love. Let us use our many gifts each day to bring God’s mercy and love to others. Pray, pray and do what Jesus tells us and empowers us to do each day.
Much love and blessings,
+ Father Bob Hilz
fbhilz@gmail.com
(© 2020 Father Bob Hilz, TOR)
