In today’s Gospel Our Lord continues to encourage the disciples and warn them not to fall into the mistakes of the Pharisees and scribes who don’t believe in him, as in yesterday‘s Gospel. Today he speaks of the protagonism of the Holy Spirit in helping us all to be a “Church which goes forth,” as Pope Francis encourages us to be in Evangelii Gaudium. It’s true that we can’t do it on our own, but we’re not on our own. As Our Lord reminds us today, when we’re put on trial for our faith, whether in a court or in the public square, we shouldn’t be afraid of becoming tongue-tied: the Holy Spirit will help us get our message across.
In the first generations of Christianity non-believers were amazed that even Christian children, by repeating the catechism they’d received, showed an amazing solidity in their arguments that reflected a sound philosophy and way of living. The first chronicles of martyrs show them to express conviction and radiate peace in the face of impending torture and death. The Holy Spirit helps the Word take root in our hearts and become virtue and conviction, but only if we are open to what the Spirit invites us to do, even in little things. Jesus warns us today about the fate of those who ignore or insult the Holy Spirit in big things. A Christian under fire will invoke the Holy Spirit for help, but that shouldn’t be the only moment he or she does: the Holy Spirit is always working in our hearts, in little and hidden ways, and by listening to the Spirit and letting the Spirit shape our lives, we’ll become those witnesses to Christ that the world needs.
Let’s thank the Holy Spirit for always being with us and working in our souls, and ask the Spirit to keep helping us to be a “Church which goes forth.”
Readings: Romans 4:13, 16–18; Psalm 105:6–9, 42–43; Luke 12:8–12.