“The Holy Spirit will teach you in that moment what you should say.”
If that is true, then why are there those times in which I feel like my words fail me? Why do I worry that I am not getting my point across or that I am being misunderstood? Where is the Holy Spirit when I put my foot in my mouth or lash out at someone in a moment of anger? And no offense, but if the Holy Spirit is such a font of vocabulary, then why do I occasionally suffer from Writer’s Block? (Seriously, this is why Jesus will never grant me an interview. He wouldn’t want to deal with my follow-up questions.)
All kidding aside, today’s gospel is part of a collection of quotes from Christ that are not backed by a broader narrative. While they are probably snippets from various sermons over the years, we don’t have a parable or plot line to understand what led Him to address the subject in the first place. Still, we do know that He is addressing a very specific moment in which we want the Holy Spirit to have our back: When we are called to the stand to defend our convictions and remain firm when those beliefs are scrutinized under cross-examination.
If you have ever watched a courtroom drama, a live hearing or public testimony, then you have seen how a personal account of an event is parsed and dissected by opposing counsel in an attempt to expose every potential loophole. Every word is put under a microscope and every part of speech is weighed in order to offer a theory on what the person has to say and what the judge and jury believe to be true.
I have watched bright, articulate individuals offer clear, concise and perfectly reasonable accounts of their role in whatever incident is under the magnifying glass only to see them crumble and become flustered when opposing counsel begins to read between the lines. How many times have we watched high profile attorneys seemingly lose their critical thinking skills as they try to reconcile what a witness says with what they actually mean? And how often do we question a person’s authenticity on the stand because their actions, mannerisms and facial expressions do not square with the words that are coming out of their mouth?
How are we supposed to have confidence that the Holy Spirit will get us through the slings and arrows when it is our turn on the witness stand? Does it possess the legal prowess of Atticus Finch? We may feel comfortable in the terms we use upon direct questioning, but we may waiver when re-interrogated. We hope that by the time all of the facts are presented and all of the evidence is taken into consideration that the court will show us mercy, but is there a guarantee that the judge is capable of culling through the noise to see what’s really in our hearts?
Jesus says there is and although it manifests through our trust in the Holy Spirit’s word choice, it begins and ends with the gift of faith – something that transcends the laws of man and adheres only to the laws of God. When we stand firm in our beliefs, testify to what we know and answer questions simply and honestly then the Truth will set us free. We may be convicted in the court of public opinion. We may be massacred in the media and we may be prosecuted for our principles. However, when we stand before the throne of Heaven and are called to account for our actions, we will declare ourselves guilty of bearing witness to the Son of Man and doing our part to build the City of God.
Today’s Readings for Mass: ROM 4:13; 16-18; PS 105: 6-7, 8-9, 42-43; LK 12: 8-12
