Message of 1-31-2024

Published: Wed, 01/31/24

A Daily Spiritual Seed
Wednesday: January 31, 2024

Message of the Day

To a preacher who kept saying, "We must put God in our lives," the Master said, "He is already there. Our business is to recognize this."
- Anthony de Mello, One Minute Wisdom

(Pray the grace to recognize God's presence in your life this day.)

Readings of the Day

2 Sm 24:2, 9-17; PS 32:1-2, 5, 6, 7

MK 6:1-6

Jesus departed from there and came to his native place,
accompanied by his disciples.
When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue,
and many who heard him were astonished.
They said, “Where did this man get all this?
What kind of wisdom has been given him?
What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!
Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary,
and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon?
And are not his sisters here with us?”
And they took offense at him.
Jesus said to them,
“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and among his own kin and in his own house.”
So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,
apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.
He was amazed at their lack of faith.

USCCB lectionary

Reflection on the Scripture

Afterward, however, David regretted having numbered the people, and said to the Lord: ‘I have sinned grievously in what I have done.’ “ —2 Samuel 24:10

David sinned by taking a census against God’s will. This sin caused the deaths of 70,000 people in three days by pestilence (2 Sm 24:15). The wages of sin is death, in fact, thousands of deaths (Rm 6:23). Moreover, this was probably not David’s worst sin.

This shows us the devastating effect of one sin, and why one sin is a tragedy much greater than the worst natural disasters. In this passage, we see the measurable results of one sin. This gives us some idea of the astronomical debt of sin amassed by the accumulated sins of all times.

This helps us understand how heavy was the cross Jesus carried. “He was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins, upon Him was the chastisement that makes us whole” (Is 53:5). “The Lord was pleased to crush Him in infirmity” (Is 53:10). The word “crushed” is a great understatement, but it’s the best the English language can do.

We can see why Jesus screamed on Calvary: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Mk 15:34) No one has ever suffered to a degree that was even remotely comparable to Jesus’ suffering. Jesus says: “Come, all you who pass by the way, look and see whether there is any suffering like My suffering” (Lam 1:12).

Prayer: Jesus, I love You. Give me the grace to avoid sin and to lead others to become Your disciples.

Promise: Jesus “made the rounds of the neighboring villages instead, and spent His time teaching.” —Mk 6:6

Presentation Ministries

Amazon Gift Cards: Good for any occasion.

Spiritual Reading

Readings from Jesus Alive in Our Lives, by Philip St. Romain. Ave Maria Press, 1985. Contemplative Ministries, Inc. 2011.

Part Three, Gift of the Spirit

Chapter 2: Jesus' Teachings on the Holy Spirit

- Selected quotes

We’ve mentioned Jesus’ teaching on the Holy Spirit, so let’s go a little deeper into that. Not all the Gospels have the same teachings, and some are relatively quiet when it comes to this topic. Nevertheless, the overall picture is one of Jesus ministering by the power of the Spirit and promising to bless his followers with the same Spirit after he had died and risen. As noted in our opening chapter, he even says it’s better for him to go so that he can send the Spirit to us in a new and powerful outpouring; otherwise, his followers will be left to their own resources, and will lack the power and wisdom that the Spirit brings.

Let’s take a few passages to get an idea of how Scripture presents Jesus speaking of the Holy Spirit. I’ll elaborate briefly on the main points, which are from John 14-16.

1st Teaching: Jn. 14:15-17
The Spirit is . . .

- Another Advocate

- She will be with us forever

- She is knowable

- She abides with us

- And is in us

A. Another Advocate. An advocate is one who pleads the case of another. Jesus considered himself to be our advocate, in that he interceded with the Father on our behalf. The Spirit will do the same; She is a coach and guide.

B. Forever. The gift of the Spirit will not be a one-shot deal, or a passing phenomenon. The gift is permanent. There is no less a gift of the Spirit now than there was in the early Church; this is one of the implications of Jesus teaching.

C. Knowable. Biblical knowledge is experiential. We will know the Spirit not through abstract conceptualization, but through actually participating in the life She brings. Philosophers call this connatural knowledge. The Spirit is intimate with us, communicating in the depths of our being.

D. Abides. This is such a lovely word and refers to the Spirit’s continuing presence among us. One dictionary definition even mentions “expectant waiting” and “bearing patiently” in reference to this word. Such is the attitude of the Spirit toward us.

E. Dwells within. It’s a tricky thing, talking about inside and outside a person. This reference to interiority means that the Spirit is not “out there” beyond our person but is more deeply present to us that we are to ourselves.

Pause awhile and reflect on what we’ve just covered about the Holy Spirit. What part(s) are speaking to you? What is your response?

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