Holy Spirit – Reflection on Luke 12:8-12
Putting yourself before others for God’s embrace includes doing so before worldly desires. You are beloved by the Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. With all the noise of unhappiness with this or that surrounding us, we need to trust and believe in ourselves and our relationship with God. Within the din of her time, Julian of Norwich eloquently evoked a sense of Christian calmness in her beautiful few words: “All will be well.” Before the experience of removing your veil of vulnerability to hear the wisdom of the Spirit, you may require one or more periods of silence and just being present to the Lord. You should feel grounded in your humanness but be open to a “spiritual conversation” that includes your intuition and being comfortable. As St. Paul suggests, testing the Spirit is necessary and appropriate. Receiving the wisdom and gifts of the Holy Spirit should never cause discomfort or confusion. There should be a sense of surety and heartwarming support. With prayer, you may find the Holy Spirit wants you to purge interior conflicts by giving and receiving forgiveness to feel whole. A sign that all is well is that the Holy Spirit provides new insights, courage, love, peace, and awareness.
Jesus Discourses with His Disciples by James Tissot (full-resolution painting)
More details are available on the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Ordinary Time Reflections
Luke 12:8-12 – Scripture*
8 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God; 9 but whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how you are to defend yourselves or what you are to say; 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what you ought to say.”
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this Gospel and reading this Lectio Divina on Luke 12:8-12 Reflection – Holy Spirit.
Would you like to contribute related thoughts to these Lectio reflections of the Gospel readings? Since Lectio is not the only contemplative payer style, others might appreciate these types of expressions in this ministry. Do you see God’s grandeur everywhere and unconditionally enjoy sharing the love of Christ that you have inside? Are you willing to be anonymous in what you would share? If so, email me.
Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities experience your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite worldly distractions.
Attributions
*This site has written permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible Luke 12 passage.
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Primary Lectio Divina word or phrase: Holy Spirit
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Discussion group on St. John of the Cross.