Monday, May 16, 2016

Homily for 17 May 2016

17 May 2016

In this first week after Pentecost, it seems appropriate to talk about “motion.”  After all, the Holy Spirit comes to us to move us forward in faith, and in life.

Whether the Spirit comes like a strong wind in a thunderstorm that practically pushes us over, or like a gentle breeze that just kind of rustles the new leaves on the trees, the Spirit of God is sent to move us.  He lifts us into greater faith, hope, charity, mercy, forgiveness . . . if we let him.  The Holy Spirit pushes us forward but, as we know, we can push back. 

Saint James is very right: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”  And that’s simply because “the proud” resist God—they push back, whereas “the humble” don’t.  And so, if we want to be grace-filled and moving forward in living a good life, we want to let ourselves be moved by the Holy Spirit of God.

Maybe the Spirit is sweeping through your conscience.  Maybe he’s inspiring you to change something in your life that needs changing.  Maybe the Holy Spirit is putting the desire in you to spend more time in prayer.  Or maybe the Spirit is just trying to say: “Lighten up!  And let me support you!”  Who knows . . .

The grace of the Holy Spirit is always trying to move us.  Where to?—only the humble know that answer.

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