The Spirit Gives Life

Catholic lay evangelist Babsie Bleasdell was often frustrated when the poor folks she served in her little community bought her expensive gifts. Babsie regularly dismissed or returned them when she could. Once, at the end of a long day of trying to cook beans that refused to soften (despite her best efforts), a knock came at the door. Her visitor listened as Babsie related her kitchen dilemma and then looked her straight in the eye and said, "Babsie, what did you do with that pressure cooker that I bought for you?" Rushing to her bedroom, Babsie ripped the wrapping paper off the appliance and returned with it to the kitchen. The pressure cooker did its work and dinner was ready that night, on time!

Babsie finished off this story to us by saying, "The Holy Spirit is like this pressure cooker, tucked in a closet somewhere and forgotten, while we struggle with so many things. He is the very One we need! When we take Him out of the closet, allowing Him to help us, His power makes the difficult thing easy."

Do you long to enter more fully into the Catholic Faith?

Is it the desire of your heart to hunger passionately for Jesus in the Eucharist, repent more earnestly in Reconciliation, deepen your relationship with Our Lady and the Saints, and relish the leadership of our Holy Father?

This is the express work of the Holy Spirit!

He is your Answer!

The truth is that our human actions and even our good will can only take us so far. Jesus says this:

“Everyone who drinks this water (of the natural world) will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14)

This life giving water, the Holy Spirit, was given to you in Baptism. A well of spiritual life is within you! As we drink of those waters we become full of His love and cry out “Abba” which means “Daddy” (Gal.5:16-17, Rom. 8:1-13). The intimacy and heart knowledge we need to “fall in love with God” is the domain of the Holy Spirit. If we ask Him we are sure to receive because Jesus promises,

“If you then who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? (Luke 11:13)

Are you like Peter, afraid of suffering? He will make you bold as a lion. Are you Thomas, filled with unbelief? He will show you who Jesus is unequivocally, and send you out as a missionary. Are you Saul, filled with judgement and wrath against people who are different from you? He will soften your heart so that you will reach out to those very ones with the love of Jesus and the Good News. Are you on the road to Emmaus, undecided, and unsure of your next step? Call on Him. He will draw near and fill you with peace and hope.

We are in the midst of a spiritual battle. Do you often feel under the thumb of temptation and sinful habits? Seek the Holy Spirit. He is the very Power of God, dwelling in you (Eph. 1:18-20). Through Him you will gain victory over even long standing habits of sin. You will have power to say no when you could not before. He will convict (but never condemn), giving you courage to thoroughly embrace the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Most of all, the Holy Spirit will impart confidence and hope that you WILL be delivered from whatever ensnares you. The Spirit of Jesus will help you to persevere and then enter into new life in Christ. When He walks in, darkness flees. He is the very Breathe of God.

How do you begin to drink these living waters that are within?

Cry out to the Holy Spirit from your heart. Ask Him to “fan into flame, the gift of God that is in you.”(2 Timothy1:6)

Prayerfully meditate on the writings of the Acts of the Apostles. Beg the Holy Spirit to begin revealing Himself to you and how He desires to work in your life and circumstances to bring glory to Jesus.

Talk to Our Lady. She is the sweet spouse of the Holy Spirit who will teach you how to open your heart and life to Him.

Jesus has sent His Holy Spirit to you. Unwrap that precious gift of the Father and receive new life in Him!