Life in the Spirit (14)

While Inspiration cannot, indeed, will not conflict with revealed truth it is important to realize that the Holy Spirit can provide each of us seemingly contrary guidance.  We see this specifically played out in Scripture in the life of St. Paul.

 Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem. (Acts 19:21)

 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, bound in the Spirit, not knowing what shall befall me there; ²³ except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. (Acts 20:22,23)

Through the Spirit they told Paul not to go on to Jerusalem (Acts 21:4)

In conclusion, to live life in the Spirit: Pray, Listen, and Discern.

Remember that God works with you according to the uniqueness in which he created you, that God is a gradualist, and an Uber-teacher.

Lastly, keep these principles in mind:

·      Crack open the door and God will do the rest.

·      Learn by doing.

·      Inspiration never contradicts truth.

I close with these words from our Lord: “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.” (John 16:12, 13)

In Christ, Ken.

Life in the Spirit (13)

Given that discernment is for the purpose of choosing to do God’s will as against all other choices, let’s turn to Guiding Principle 3: Inspiration will not contradict truth.

Here is a simple anecdote to demonstrate this guiding principle:

A young unmarried couple who have been hanging out together for several months now find themselves alone in the guy’s apartment.  They are both practicing Catholics and decide to say the following prayer together, “Lord, you know we want to do your will.  You also know that we are in love and are looking forward to living as a married couple.  If it is your will that we refrain from physical intimacy this evening, reveal your will to us by having someone come and knock on the door within the next 20 minutes.”

What’s wrong with this discernment tactic?

Again, the Guiding Principle here is that The Holy Spirit’s inspiration will not contradict his revealed truth.

The Holy Spirit will not, cannot, ask us for anything that contradicts His will as expressed by the more normal means and to the larger Catholic community: the Word of God, the teaching of the Church, and the demands of our vocation. “When God puts inspirations into a heart, the first he gives is obedience,” says St. Francis de Sales. Furthermore, inspirations generally flow in the same direction as duties applicable to our state and do not divert us from them but help us to fulfill them.

In Christ, Ken.

Life in the Spirit (12)

Continuing with the notion of Discernment (Third of the 3 Activities), Luke tells us of Martha and Mary where Jesus tells Martha, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part…”

It is not that Martha chose the bad part, hospitality is a good, but, in that moment, it may not have been what Jesus was calling her to – certainly, he was not calling her to be critical of Mary.  So, Mary was able to discern what it was she should do at that moment, Martha was not.

As an aside, note that Jesus uses the phrase “there is need of only one thing” which should call to mind St. Faustina’s remark that “one thing alone is necessary”.  Here, more specifically, it is sitting at Jesus feet. Prayer too, is spiritually sitting at His feet.

And consider this, it may be that in that moment Martha was learning.  It is very likely that being a gradualist, God did not consider it urgent that Martha be in the same place spiritually as Mary, and as uber-teacher, God knew this was the best way and the opportune time for Martha to gain this insight and thus advance in the life in the spirit.

In Christ, Ken.

Life in the Spirit (11)

“Life in the Spirit” consists of three primary Activities.  Two have been discussed so far: Prayerand Listening. Subsequent to listing is Discernment, the third activity.

Discernment is doing your utmost to ensure that you are indeed getting guidance from the Holy Spirit and not from one or more of three other possible sources: yourself, the world, the enemy – Satan or his minions.

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

The Holy Spirit makes us discernbetween trials, which are necessary for the growth of the inner man, and temptation, which leads to sin and death.¹⁵³We must also discern between being tempted and consenting to temptation. Finally, discernment unmasks the lie of temptation, whose object appears to be good, a “delight to the eyes” and desirable, when in reality its fruit is death. (ccc 2847

Consider that as one grows spiritually the challenge is not choosing between good and evil, but between good and God.  

Genesis 3:6 tells us that Eve, “saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise.”  All good things, but it was not what God was asking of Eve – or Adam.

In Christ, Ken.

Life in the spirit (10)

Knowing that God is a gradualist, I’d like you to now think of the best teacher you have ever had.

Now imagine that this teacher has undergone hyper-insight-teacher-development and has run advanced, high-tech tests on you and now has incredible insight into how you learn best, knowing exactly what type of learning experience will work best for you, precisely when you are physiologically and psychologically ready to absorb it, and knows exactly how to present it to you for your optimum learning. 

God is that teacher. I previously referred to God as the “uber-teacher.”[No, I’m not saying that God teaches how to drive for Uber.]Uber is a German word “denoting a supremeexample of a particular kind of person or thing.” 

Not surprisingly, it is often the case that the learning experience will not be how or what we think it ought to be.  We may even feel that we have been blindsided, challenged beyond our capacity, or not given the tools we need.  But here the Father really does Know Best.  

I will only add that He welcomes your feedback in whatever tone of voice you feel is appropriate. Mindful, that He will still deal with us as He knows is “supremely” best and uniquely appropriate.

In Christ, Ken.