Monday After Epiphany

Lectionary: 212

We receive from him whatever we ask,

because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

And his commandment is this:

we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,

and love one another just as he commanded us.

Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them,

and the way we know that he remains in us

is from the Spirit whom he gave us.

Of the four evangelists, Saint John the Divine may have the clearest grasp of the life of the Holy Spirit in the Church. He describes a convincing and beautiful progression of Life from the Father to the Son to the Church in the Holy Spirit. Jesus loves us as the Father loves him. We may love one another as Jesus has loved us. The Holy Spirit is the life that flows through the Father, the Son, and the Church like blood within the body. 

Saint John's grasp of the Trinity also opens deeper appreciation of the Mass, as we offer the oblation of the Son to the Father, in the Spirit that moves in us. Our prayer is the more than a reenactment of what happened on Calvary; we sacrifice Jesus to His Father.   

The most important sign of the Spirit's presence is our love for one another. Failing that, we should not call ourselves a church; nor deem ourselves disciples. Believing in Jesus is a fine thing but our faith is proved by our care for one another. "Everyone should see how unselfish you are!" Saint Paul said to the Philippians. (Notice: he didn't say, "Everyone should see how happy you are." Spare me that humbug!)

Saint John continues, "...we know that he remains in us from the Spirit whom he gave us." Competent coaches watch their teams closely, gauging the spirit of their teams. Are they up and eager? Are they sad and defeated? Are they working together or feuding with each other? Do they support one another, shaking off errors and cheering individual success? Or, are they getting too cocky? Too pessimistic? Good coaches know that winning isn't everything. An inspired team wins even when it loses; a dispirited team is disappointed even when it wins.

Our daily examen cultivates that awareness of the Holy Spirit as we strive to do nothing that would offend the Spirit. 

The Holy Spirit is given to the Church. Christian individuals may be enthusiastic, but their spirit is not for their personal benefit. Rather, they are moved by the Holy Spirit for the sake of the Church.

Which leads us to the next teaching,  "...do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God," In our time, when some self-describe spiritual people denounce religion, creating an arbitrary difference between the two words, we might wonder which "spirit" they're fostering. It may be fascinating and fun; it may also be antithetical to everything human. 

They belong to the world;

accordingly, their teaching belongs to the world,

and the world listens to them.

We belong to God, and anyone who knows God listens to us,

"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." When Jesus set out to save the world, he chose to go far. He created a community whose influence would reshape all human history -- in the course of millennia. His death on the cross acted both preveniently​​ -- restoring eternal life to his ancestors -- and preemptively, opening to everyone to come the gates of heaven. 

But in that same divine act he also went fast; his disciples felt an immediate, overwhelming relief as they knew God's mercy. 

The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard “delay,” but he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar and the elements will be dissolved by fire, and the earth and everything done on it will be found out. 

2 Peter 3:9-10