Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 432

The Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God. Among men, who knows what pertains to the man except his spirit that is within? Similarly, no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God,

 

The Prophet Jeremiah often speaks of the heart and its mysterious depths. I especially recall his complaint: “More tortuous than anything is the human heart, beyond remedy; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

You’ll recall Saint Paul’s complaint also, “What I do, I do not understand. For I do not do what I want, but I do what I hate.” (Romans 7:31) Why is it that we set out to do one thing and then decide to do something else? And often the wrong thing!

Jesus observed of his disciples after the Last Supper, “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” This enigma is at the very core of the scriptures.

In today’s reading from First Corinthians, Saint Paul contemplates God’s spirit and its work among us. First he compares God's spirit to our own and then, how they work:

Among men, who knows what pertains to the man except his spirit that is within? Similarly, no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God.

But we often do not know what is within our own hearts. We are often blind to our own intentions. For instance, we may deny what we are ashamed to admit, and claim our motives are reasonable, good, and helpful when they may be quite vengeful and destructive. 

The mind of God is Goodness, and the Spirit of God reveals that goodness to those who are willing to set their own motives -- both good or ill -- aside and be moved by God's spirit. 

Of Christians he says, “We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand the things freely given us by God.”

I often meet Veterans who are wrestling with addictions to alcohol and other substances, and I try to explain to them the spiritual dimensions of recovery. I am convinced that no one generates the spirit of sobriety in isolation. We must share our frustration, disappointment, hope, energy, and determination with one another. 

Scientists call it synergy; they observe that energy is intensified and focused when sympathetic systems work together. A group of people, each bringing willingness, commitment, know-how, and zeal to a project, generates more energy than the sum of their separate efforts. Kentuckians know it by their state motto: United we stand; divided we fall.

Practicing Christians and Catholics support one another in the life of the Spirit. With centuries of experience and practical wisdom, our religion recognizes the tortuous ways of the human heart and the power of God to direct willing souls in the way of righteousness. Our sacraments, rituals, prayers, rules, and institutions address sinister complexity as they call us to gracious mercy. 

If we’re sometimes caught off guard by new developments within or around us – like the recent scandal among Catholic priests and bishops – we are not destroyed. We learn from the experience. Betrayal fits an ancient pattern that began with Cain and crystalized in Judas Iscariot. We have seen this and worse, and kept going.

Jeremiah lamented, “More tortuous than anything is the human heart, beyond remedy; who can understand it?” The Church, that mystic fellowship which is animated by God's Spirit, understands and guides, heals and purifies.