God is exhorting us all the time with grace, love

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

A reflection on the daily readings, for Friday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time, by Father Perry.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

+ Today’s Gospel verse sums it up very well —

“When the Spirit of truth comes,
he will guide you to all truth
and remind you of all I told you.”

Both in baptism and confirmation we are anointed with that Spirit of truth; and how good it is if we acknowledge and call upon that Spirit of truth, even on a daily basis.

But, of course, we must want to be guided. And we must be willing to be guided. And when guided, we must listen and hear.

In Hosea today, God writes the entire script for Israel and Ephraim. He tells them both what they are to do and what they are to stop doing. He tells them what to think and what to say. And in the end, God speaks a hortatory subjunctive, which is a present-tense expression of command often with the words, “Let it be”; “Let it happen”; “May it be so.”

Simply by saying it suggests that it is in the process of becoming. And so God says —

“Let him who is wise understand these things;
let him who is prudent know them.”

Anointed with the Spirit of truth

God is exhorting us all the time with grace and love. We have only to listen and to hear.

And Jesus says the same. Jesus admits that his followers who go out to preach will have adversaries who will oppose them and bring them before courts. But he tells them —

“When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say.
For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

Anointed with the Spirit, it will live in you, guide you, and speak through you. And you will find yourself walking hand-in-hand with the Lord. We should have confidence and peace of mind, and we should —

“Let it be.” “Let it happen.” “May it be so.”

Do we dare this very day to ask for God’s guidance, to ask for God’s Spirit of truth to come alive in us? Do we dare to ask a simple question to our God like, “God, what would you do?” or “God, what do you think I should say?” Or even, “How are you going to guide me through this?”

And once this is said aloud or in the silence of our hearts, do we really believe that God will do it? Will we be inspired and led by the Spirit? Will God exhort us, saying, “Let it be.” “Let it happen.” “May it be so.”?