When it comes to the Blessed Trinity, we sometimes do not give enough credit to the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Let me tell you a short story that happened just last Friday. I am not a slave to my email or cell phone. I only check my email every couple of days and my cell is hit and miss.
I received notification on my email that they needed last minute help at church to clean up the gym after the overflow Mass that was held Christmas Eve. The shout out was posted minutes before I noticed it. I could have easily missed, but I didn’t.
We needed four people to roll up the tarps on the gym floor and guess how many showed up. You are right.. four. God provided just enough.
The credit has to go to the Holy Spirit. He opened doors for everyone there. I normally don’t check my email. There was a time crunch because other volunteers had other places to be, but because the Holy Spirit paved the way it took all of us 45 minutes and everything came together for God’s plan to be complete.
I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, on whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.
Now the realities of the miracle of the gym could be a coincidence but years ago a buddy of mine and I came to the conclusion that there are no coincidences with God.
What happens if the miracle does not work out?
Sometimes the people we hold up in prayer don’t get well and die. Sometimes the pet we love has to be put down. Sometimes children are abused and go hungry.
The first reading from 1 John says, See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God…. Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure as he is pure.
The reality is that the Holy Spirit working through all of us gives me hope for the new year and the next miracle down the road. It gives me hope for all the wrongs of the world. It gives me hope for the next generation.
Happy New Year!
God Bless you always,
Bob Burford
