Solemnity of the Pentecost (Gifts of the Spirit)
Perhaps too many of us regard the Holy Spirit—and things we associate with the Holy Spirit—as abstract, and unrelated to our everyday lives. Today I want to speak of the Gifts of the Spirit. Most likely, you learned about and perhaps memorized, the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit when preparing for Confirmation. These Gifts are mentioned in Isaiah chapter 11, words that Isaiah speaks of the Messiah who is to come, and in Jesus, we see the embodiment of these seven Gifts.
As Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit at his Baptism, through our baptism into the life of Jesus, we come to inherit these Gifts from this same Spirit. Though given to us in Baptism, in Confirmation they are enlivened, in order be drawn out of us, for the good of others. I will go through these seven Gifts now, and I invite you to listen and to humbly consider where you need to be strengthened in these Gifts.
Wisdom: One way to think about the gift of wisdom is that it affords us with a supernatural lens with which to view ourselves, others, and all creation. The people and things of this world therefore take on greater meaning and purpose because of their association with the Creator.
Do I give time in prayer to consider what God wishes to reveal to me through the gift of Wisdom, so that I might see myself, those I love, all people and things, as I believe God sees them, in truth?
Understanding: Understanding, as a gift of the Holy Spirit, helps us to grasp the meaning of the truths of our holy religion but also how to walk as a follower of Jesus Christ. By faith we know them, but by Understanding we come to find personal meaning in them. It further enables us to bear testimony to the faith that is alive in us.
Do I give time and energy to learn about my faith, to unearth its meaning and value, so that it might move myself, but also those God has entrusted to me, deeper into unity with Him?
Counsel: It’s the gift through which the Holy Spirit enables our conscience to make a concrete choice in communion with God, according to the logic of Jesus and his Gospel. This gift is closely associated with the virtue of prudence. It nurtures our interior sensitivity and aids us in taking the right action with the right intention.
Do I tend to act impulsively or am I triggered to act based on my emotions? Do I seek guidance from the Holy Spirit in prayer, and carefully process within to consider the effects of my responses and actions?
Knowledge: The gift of Knowledge helps us to see God and all providence in perspective and in trust. It shows us His unconditional love and directs us to glorify Him in all things, good and bad, easy and difficult. This knowledge enables us to put first things first, and to prize the friendship of God beyond all else.
Am I swayed back and forth in my relationship with God, depending on how I believe things are going in my life? Do I tend to focus on a surface level, putting too much value on created things and the fleeting realities in my life?
Fortitude: Sometimes referenced as Courage, this gift helps us to overcome fear and to be willing to take risks as a follower of Jesus. A person with courage is willing to stand up for what is right in the sight of God, even if it means accepting rejection and even potential harm.
Am I guided too much by the perception of others, seeking to be accepted? Do I reform my values based upon what I regard as the moral majority, even when it compromises my Christian values and what I know God wills for me?
Piety: Sometimes referred to as reverence, this gift gives us an abiding love and respect for God and the things of God. One who nurtures the gift of Piety finds the practice of religion, not a burdensome duty, but a delightful service. Where there is love, there is no labor.
Does pride lead me to lose my child-like regard for God? Do I put too much value on things that disrupt and distance me from the practice of my faith? Do those who learn from me, see in me, a genuine love for Jesus, or do they see me taking a half-hearted approach to the life to which he calls me?
Fear of the Lord: Sometimes referred to as wonder or awe, Fear of the Lord gives way to seeing oneself in truth, as a creature of God, and in total dependence upon Him. Even as we see ourselves as children loved by a heavenly Father, Fear of the Lord, reminds us that He is something greater than we can comprehend; that He is, holy, holy, holy. From this comes a desire to do all things in accord with His will.
Do I presume God’s mercy, leading me to do things that I know He desires me to leave behind? Do I make excuses or justify choices that deny His will for my life?
Where did the Spirit reveal to you, that you need to be strengthened? To the extent we are strengthened, it conforms us evermore to the image of Jesus, the embodiment of these seven Gifts. Let us now pray for it:
O Lord Jesus Christ / Who, before ascending into heaven / did promise to send the Holy Spirit / to finish Your work / in the souls of Your Apostles and Disciples, / grant that the same Holy Spirit / would perfect in my soul, / the work of Your grace and Your love. / Grant me the seven-fold Gifts / and mark me, dear Lord, / with the sign of Your true disciples / and animate me / in all things with Your Spirit. / Amen.