The Holy Spirit

by David Lins  |  06/16/2019  |  (Being) Catholic Matters

The sixteenth chapter of the Gospel of John contains an interesting late slice of dialogue. Jesus said to his disciples: "I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.”

He is holding things back from His disciples, but only until they are ready for it.

“But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you."

The Holy Spirit will show up. The Holy Spirit will speak. The Holy Spirit will do this when the disciples are ready.

I can’t speak for you, but I get so impatient with God. I feel as though I have a right to know what He is doing at any moment.

My daughter turned two this weekend and she is amazing. Usually. When she gets hungry, she wants her food and she wants it now. She doesn’t understand that meals might need thirty seconds of preparation. She constantly calls to us from her spot at the table. She is (essentially) saying, “Hey! Hi. Have you forgotten about my needs?”

This is me with God. “Hey! Hi. Have You forgotten about my needs? No? Good. I’d like a status report.”

This Gospel reminds us that we don’t know it all. And sometimes, it is because we aren’t ready for it. The Holy Spirit will speak to us when we are ready—if we are attentive to Him.

Questions? Comments? Email David at dlins@oloj.org.