Cut this Out!

Have you ever found yourself needing some help in the midst of one of life’s challenges?

I bet you have, because the truth is, we all need help sometimes.  Whether it is working through grief from the loss of a loved one, struggling with anxiety or stress, or learning to live with the unknown, every one, at some point, can use some help.

Often we turn to family or friends, therapists or ministers—and those are good people to help us—but additionally, an immediate advocate that we can turn to for powerful help, is the Holy Spirit.

Now for some of us, the Holy Spirit might just seem like a figment of one’s imagination since we can’t visibly see or touch the Spirit, but I promise you, the Holy Spirit is very real and a powerful Advocate for us.

Jesus, knowing his apostles would need help after he ascended into heaven, promised that they would receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus is not one to lightly make promises, nor is he one to not make good on them.

So what exactly is the work of the Holy Spirit according to Jesus?

To help his apostles (and us!) be his witnesses “to the ends of the earth.”

Now a unique way for us to do that is to give all glory to God, even in the midst of the messiness of life, when it is apparent that we are unable to survive simply by our own sheer determination.

It may take a miracle, a real act of God, to pull us through the pain of life, but in the midst of it all, profound witness can be given with the help of the Holy Spirit.

It is the Holy Spirit that can move us when we have run out of energy.

It is the Holy Spirit’s power and strength that lifts us up when we feel like we are lost, or stuck, or feeling hopeless.

The outpouring of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit upon us is the tongues of fire that came upon the apostles on Pentecost in the upper room.

Here is a list of the gifts that you might want to cut out and use in your prayer time, but I am also giving you a link to the article they came from, The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit.  (Although I am not 100% in agreement with some of the author’s concluding statements, I think the article is well worth printing and considering.)

Please note that the references at the end of each gift come from the Summa of St. Thomas Aquinas.

·         Wisdom is both the knowledge of and judgment about “divine things” and the ability to judge and direct human affairs according to divine truth (I/I.1.6; I/II.69.3; II/II.8.6; II/II.45.1–5).

·         Understanding is penetrating insight into the very heart of things, especially those higher truths that are necessary for our eternal salvation—in effect, the ability to “see” God (I/I.12.5; I/II.69.2; II/II.8.1–3).

·         Counsel allows a man to be directed by God in matters necessary for his salvation (II/II.52.1).

·         Fortitude denotes a firmness of mind in doing good and in avoiding evil, particularly when it is difficult or dangerous to do so, and the confidence to overcome all obstacles, even deadly ones, by virtue of the assurance of everlasting life (I/II.61.3; II/II.123.2; II/II.139.1).

·         Knowledge is the ability to judge correctly about matters of faith and right action, so as to never wander from the straight path of justice (II/II.9.3).

·         Piety is, principally, revering God with filial affection, paying worship and duty to God, paying due duty to all men on account of their relationship to God, and honoring the saints and not contradicting Scripture. The Latin word pietas denotes the reverence that we give to our father and to our country; since God is the Father of all, the worship of God is also called piety (I/II.68.4; II/II.121.1).

·         Fear of God is, in this context, “filial” or chaste fear whereby we revere God and avoid separating ourselves from him—as opposed to “servile” fear, whereby we fear punishment (I/II.67.4; II/II.19.9).

Janet Cassidy
janetcassidy.blogspot.com
janetcassidy.blubrry.net