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Day 23 Reflection –
The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Catholic Faith Catechism cf. #1012 –
Scripture and Catholic tradition offer some helpful insights on the mission of the Holy Spirit.
- He leads us to faith in Jesus Christ;
- He keeps our faith united, constant, and consistent with Scripture and Tradition;
- He gives spiritual gifts to individuals for the service of the community: to build up the Christian community and fellowship, and work toward overcoming dissensions and factions (cf. 1 Cor 1:10; 3:3).
- He is known by His fruits which St. Paul lists as “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Gal 5:22);
- He is authoritatively discerned, and the proper use of His gifts tested by those who preside over the Church (LG 12);
- He is found in humility: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (Jas 4:6)
The Holy Spirit equips us with the seven gifts which enables us to see life in its proper perspective.
An Oriental fable tells of a king who was a confirmed pessimist and worrier. He took everything seriously. Every unpleasant incident, any set-back in his plans, was puffed up to a huge disaster in his mind. As a result his health was undermined and he was wasting away.
The court physician decided to cure him. He gave the king a ring with these simple words engraved upon it: THIS TOO SHALL PASS AWAY.
Whenever anything happened or was said that might displease or upset his majesty, he was to take off the ring and read the inscription. It worked. The king began to see things in their proper perspective. He began to realize that time throws a kindly veil over the disappointments, the difficulties which today seem insurmountable, and tomorrow seem trivial. He began to see that the immediate present quickly passes.
William Blake (1757-1827) wrote, “I do not question my bodily eye any more than I would question a window concerning sight. I look through it and not with it. What we envision and see dictates our happiness in this world. To the eye of a beggar, money if far more beautiful than the sun. The tree which moves us and may bring forth tears of joy to us, is in the eyes of others only a green thing which stands in the way.
As a man is, so he sees. When the sun rises, do you not see a round disk of fire something like a gold piece? Oh no, no, I see an innumerable company of the heavenly host crying, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty.”
Scripture (Is 11:1-2) – The royal line of David is like a tree that has been cut down; but just as new branches sprout from a stump, so a new King will arise from among David’s descendants. The spirit of the Lord will give him wisdom and the knowledge and skill to rule his people.
Prayer:
O Holy Spirit, with Your gifts guide us to put a stop to the long travails of mankind: the wars, the hungry millions, the natural disasters aggravated by greed and opportunism, the cruel and needless death, man’s inhumanity to one another, the heartbreak and hopelessness of so many lives. Actualize our gifts that we may hasten the coming of the messianic age when the nations shall be at peace, when humanity shall live free from fear and free from want; when there shall be no more pain or tears in the security and assurance of God’s Love. Amen.
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