Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

 Lectionary: 481

The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness;
for we do not know how to pray as we ought,
but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.
And the one who searches hearts
knows what is the intention of the Spirit,
because he intercedes for the holy ones 
according to God’s will.

Saint Paul poured his whole life into the Epistle to the Roman, and the eighth chapter may be its most important. Even the prepositions are fraught with meaning! 

Knowledge of God -- that is, Revelation -- has been given to God and the Church remembers it both as a set of doctrines. Yesterday, in this blog, I reminded myself and my readers that this knowledge comes at a price. The Lord has paid the entire cost but it costs us no less. Like him, we must abandon everything to know these truths. 

To put it differently, we must know the Lord with that kind of personal knowledge to which Mary referred when she asked, "How can this be, since I know not man?" It might be described as physical, experiential, existential, intimate, intense, personal and particular. This knowledge cannot be found in a dictionary, FAQ, or catechism. It may be acquired through an inspired historical process, provided that education is carefully guided, focused, and disciplined by the Wisdom of God. The Holy Spirit chooses the Elect and provides them with a ready receptivity to the Truth.

Following that careful education and intense formation, the one who knows the Lord also claims the relationship and is willing to pay the price. It does come with a price.  

Scripture and tradition remind us to do nothing to offend the Holy Spirit.  (I have used Catholic Cross-Reference for the following list.)

• Mark 8:15
• Luke 12:15
• 1 Cor 16:13
• Philippians 4:7
• I Timothy 6:20
• 2 Timothy 1:12-14
• 2 Peter 3:17
• Hebrews 4:1

This knowledge of God does not come readily, and is virtually unknown in our secular world. The Elect learn to withdraw from the world and to seek the Lord through the Church with its sacraments, traditions, liturgies, and companionship. They also learn the value of solitude, silence, and simplicity.

Saint Francis insisted that poverty is the simplest, easiest, fastest, and surest way to know the Lord. The truly poor rely upon the Lord and do nothing to offend the Holy Spirit as they guard against greed. 

The Lord's Freedom comes freely, but not without sacrifice. It is not, and was never supposed to be, easy.