Listen

All who are led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons and daughters. You didn’t receive a spirit of slavery to lead you back again into fear, but you received a Spirit that shows you are adopted as his children. With this Spirit, we cry, “Abba, Father.” The same Spirit agrees with our spirit, that we are God’s children. But if we are children, we are also heirs. We are God’s heirs and fellow heirs with Christ, if we really suffer with him so that we can also be glorified with him.

Romans 8:14-17

Think

When reading the passage, we realize that the Spirit brings about transformation.

We don’t know how the Spirit moves, or what is exactly happening, but we do know that the Spirit is at work. The Spirit is what unifies us with Christ, and according to the scripture, makes us “heirs of God.” How powerful is it that something we can’t see is at work in all things, doing such magnificent things?

Each year, I teach our Confirmation class. Like clockwork, when we come to the topic of the Spirit, the students are often puzzled. However, I trust that, with the Spirit’s movement, and some further explanation, they will come to know more about the divine mystery. Here are a few words the students used to describe their understanding of the Spirit:

“Safe”…“Warm”…“At Work”…“Comfortable”…“Confusing”

In our text, we learn the Spirit is what unites us with something greater than ourselves, bringing us together in community with one another. Even in the midst of suffering, the Spirit is at work.

Jacob Kennedy

Question to Ponder:

When you feel the Holy Spirit at work, what does it feel like?

Pray

Come Holy Spirit, and inspire.

Quell any fear in my heart.

Help me to tackle the day.

To love others.

And to remember that in the community of faith, I am united with others.

Amen.

Go

Receive now this shortened blessing of Saint Patrick, as sung by musician Steve Bell in his song, “The Lorica”:

“Be above me, as high as the noonday sun.

Be below me, the rock I set my feet upon.

Be beside me, the wind on my left and right.

Be behind me, oh circle me with your truth and light.”

Amen