Do you use the Holy Spirit?
Jesus says to the Pharisees, ‘Which of you here, if his son falls into a well, or his ox, will not pull him out on a sabbath day without hesitation?’ And to this they could find no answer. To me Jesus is saying use your head. Saint Paul is saying use your head in Union with the Holy Spirit when it comes to the Law of the Old Testament.
Father Bob S is a Priest I knew in Florida. He gave great homilies. He was a Kansas farm boy who was down to earth and played the accordion. He asked one time what you would do if an old friend came to town and wanted to visit but you had not attended Sunday Mass and there were no other available Masses. Would you go to dinner or would you blow them off. Father Bob said of course you would go to dinner with them.
Jesus is reminding the Pharisees and us that the letter of the Law is one thing, but the Holy Spirit and reason are the exceptions. My wife, Anna, insists that the only time I speed in driving a car is when I go to Church. I have to go to Church because it is the Law and also, I want to go to Communion. There are times when I miss Mass when my wife’s blood sugar drops and I have to make sure she has what she needs to recover. There are times when the time changes in the Spring when we have missed Mass because of human error. Last week we received Communion four times.
Jesus is not telling us to ignore the Law but there are times when it is necessary and what He wants us to be NOT so obsessive compulsive and wrapped up in legality. This is why Saint Paul writes in union with the Holy Spirit.
In another example “Guidelines” on EWTN say we are not to raise our hands during the Our Father during Mass. The show stated that it was not proper to raise our hands because only Priests and Deacons are allowed. However, since Adam fell by listening to the Devil and was not being submissive to the will of God, it would seem that the simple gesture lifting our hands of submission to God’s will while praying “Thy Kingdom Come, Thy will be done” in the Our Father is appropriate. I honestly don’t have the answer. The Eucharistic prayer is where the Priest and Deacon raise their hands. Th80e Communion Rite begins. “Through Him and with Him and in Him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours for ever and ever.” Then the congregation responds, “Amen”. This begins the Communion Rite. We say the Our Father in congregation, but the experience is private and if family is present, it is in union with other family members. I don’t have the “Guideline” answer. The Holy Spirit will work it out. The Charismatic movement started the movement in the 80’s. It is definitely Holy Spirit led.
In our Gospel, but they remained silent, so he took the man and cured him and sent him away. Jesus is saying look at the big picture, Nonetheless, He will never ask us to sin to accomplish His will. And by this, I mean one of the Ten Commandments. In addition, the Holy Spirit will not do that nor the Father. God can never deny Himself.
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
PS: Please Pray for Cancer victims and their caregivers. Pray for the conversion of Russia and the salvation of the Ukrainian and Russian people and their soldiers. Pray for the Holy Land. Pray for children everywhere who are suffering. Pray for peace!
