The Gifts of the Holy Spirit

"This is good and pleasing to God . . . who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth." ~ 1 Timothy 2:3-4

As Catholics, we strive to grow in our understanding of and our role in our faith. This ongoing quest is supported by works like Faith Reflections and other resources to be part of the way we continually develop our faith, and keep our mind and spirit in sync.

Yet we do discover on this path that there are significant, foundational aspects of our spiritual lives that come to us not out of our own seeking, but by the grace of God. Gifts of wisdom, understanding, judgement, knowledge, courage, reverence, and wonder are freely given to us. Through them, the Holy Spirit leads us to an instinctual way of actively living our faith.

Each of these gifts is meant to cultivate in us a readiness to receive God’s guidance and strength for our lives. Our receptiveness to the gifts from the Holy Spirit is declared at Baptism and then again at Confirmation. The gifts’ presence in us is like a spiritual awareness making us more awake to the grace of the Holy Spirit.

The prophet Isaiah gives us the basis of our understanding of what is known as these seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord and his delight shall be the fear of the Lord. (Isaiah 11:1-2).

The following are brief profiles of the gifts the Holy Spirit bestows on each of us.

• Wisdom gives us a great capacity and desire to reflect on God and our life in Him even as we continue to constantly learn more about ourselves and what it means to live as a child of God. 

• Understanding helps us grasp the truths of faith in time, and to accept them even when we don’t fully comprehend them. This strengthens our insights through prayer and the sacraments. 

• Right judgement cultivates our knowing right from wrong. We acknowledge how important this is through self-examination that continues throughout our life. 

• Courage is our fortitude, helping us to overcome our fears through hope and knowing we are never alone. 

• Knowledge is that tremendous strength we cultivate from knowing God and choosing goodness—making decisions in the light of faith. 

• Reverence is our deep respect for God that the Holy Spirit inspires in us. This enables us to humbly give ourselves, our burdens, and our joys over to God. 

• Through wonder and awe, we know God’s perfection to enough of a degree that we embrace a healthy “fear of the Lord.” Not a fear of being punished, but a fear of offending. Out of wonder and awe, we also tap into God’s hope and healing power. 

source: Faith Reflection, National Shrine of St. Jude

When you pray, fast, and give alms

Are you hungry for God and do you thirst for his holiness? God wants to set our hearts ablaze with the fire of his Holy Spirit that we may share in his holiness and radiate the joy of the gospel to those around us. St. Augustine of Hippo tells us that there are two kinds of people and two kinds of love: "One is holy, the other is selfish. One is subject to God; the other endeavors to equal Him." We are what we love. God wants to free our hearts from all that would keep us captive to selfishness and sin. "Rend your hearts and not your garments" says the prophet Joel (Joel 2:12). The Holy Spirit is ever ready to transform our hearts and to lead us further in God's way of truth and holiness.

Why did Jesus single out prayer, fasting, and almsgiving for his disciples? The Jews considered these three as the cardinal works of the religious life. These were seen as the key signs of a pious person, the three great pillars on which the good life was based. Jesus pointed to the heart of the matter. Why do you pray, fast, and give alms? To draw attention to yourself so that others may notice and think highly of you? Or to give glory to God? The Lord warns his disciples of self-seeking glory - the preoccupation with looking good and seeking praise from others. True piety is something more than feeling good or looking holy. True piety is loving devotion to God. It is an attitude of awe, reverence, worship and obedience. It is a gift and working of the Holy Spirit that enables us to devote our lives to God with a holy desire to please him in all things (Isaiah 11:1-2).

What is the sure reward which Jesus points out to his disciples? It is communion with God our Father. In him alone we find the fulness of life, happiness, and truth. May the prayer of Augustine of Hippo, recorded in his Confessions, be our prayer this Lent: When I am completely united to you, there will be no more sorrows or trials; entirely full of you, my life will be complete. The Lord wants to renew us each day and give us new hearts of love and compassion. Do you want to grow in your love for God and for your neighbor? Seek him expectantly in prayer, with fasting, and in generous giving to those in need.

The forty days of Lent is the annual retreat of the people of God in imitation of Jesus' forty days in the wilderness. Forty is a significant number in the scriptures. Moses went to the mountain to seek the face of God for forty days in prayer and fasting. The people of Israel were in the wilderness for forty years in preparation for their entry into the promised land. Elijah fasted for forty days as he journeyed in the wilderness to the mountain of God. We are called to journey with the Lord in a special season of prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and penitence as we prepare to celebrate the feast of Easter, the Christian Passover. The Lord gives us spiritual food and supernatural strength to seek his face and to prepare ourselves for spiritual combat and testing. We, too, must follow in the way of the cross in order to share in the victory of Christ's death and resurrection. As we begin this holy season of testing and preparation, let's ask the Lord for a fresh outpouring of his Holy Spirit that we may grow in faith, hope, and love and embrace his will more fully in our lives.

Lord Jesus, give me a lively faith, a firm hope, a fervent charity, and a great love of you. Take from me all lukewarmness in the meditation of your word, and dullness in prayer. Give me fervor and delight in thinking of you and your grace, and fill me with compassion for others, especially those in need, that I may respond with generosity.

source: From the desk of Don Schwager, 

hosted by Kairos Europe and the Middle East