Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter

Today's Readings:
Acts 17:15, 22--18:1
Ps 148:1-2, 11-14
John 16:12-15

http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/043008.shtml

Gifts from the Spirit of Truth

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus assures us that we have the Holy Spirit to teach us what we need to know and to help us recognize the truth. To better understand how this happens, let's consider the seven sanctifying gifts of the Spirit, as listed in Isaiah 11:2-3.

Wisdom: The wisdom of God is contrary to the wisdom of the world. The Holy Spirit's gift of wisdom helps us to detach from the world and to cherish only what's heavenly. This wisdom, used in everyday life, is what changes us from our old, pre-converted ways and enlivens us in the ways of Christ. We find pleasure in what's holy.

Understanding: What don't you understand about a Church teaching or the ways of faith? Ask the Holy Spirit for understanding and you will be enlightened. You will increasingly gain a fuller awareness that makes sense of the truths of the faith, of God's love, of his plans for you, etc., to the extent that it's necessary for your salvation and your work of serving God's kingdom.

Counsel: Are you ever indecisive? Do you feel hesitant and full of doubts about your current choices or your future? The Holy Spirit wants to guide you and instruct you so that you can make the right decisions. My favorite prayer for this is: "Lord, open the doors of opportunities in the way I should go, and close all doors that lead elsewhere." And he does!

Fortitude: Are you growing weary from trials? The Holy Spirit gives us supernatural courage to persist and overcome obstacles and difficulties. From this we learn that we really can trust Jesus and reach a good end despite how bad and lengthy the problems seem.

Knowledge: The Holy Spirit directs us to the right paths and the right solutions, even supernaturally if necessary. Watch carefully; the Spirit of Truth is pointing out the dangers to avoid and the goals to reach. Listen to the songs, the scriptures, and the people that God puts "coincidentally" into your day. If their message seems familiar, because the Holy Spirit has already been speaking it to your heart, trust it and proceed with confidence.

Piety: Do you have a desire to embrace a life of holiness and to imitate Christ? This desire comes straight from the Holy Spirit, who teaches us how to respond to every situation with holy actions and attitudes.

Fear of the Lord: Once we've been converted, respect for God feels instinctive, doesn't it? That's because it's purely a gift from the Holy Spirit, who teaches us to hate sin. Fear of the Lord is a profound respect for his perfect holiness. The more enlivened our relationship with the Spirit is, the more we loathe the idea of offending the Lord whom we love so dearly.

Here's a prayer for increasing these gifts:

Come, Holy Spirit, and renew the face of the earth through me.
Fill me with Your life and Your grace,
that my soul may be sanctified.
Increase in me the gift of holy wisdom,
that I may use wisely the gifts You have given me.
Increase in me the gift of understanding,
that I may hear and respond to Your call.
Increase in me the gift of Your good counsel,
that I may always follow God's will.
Increase in me the gift of knowledge,
that I may grow in holiness by knowing God and myself more fully.
Increase in me the gift of love, that I may serve as Christ's hands and feet and voice
sharing Your love with everyone I meet today.
Come, Holy Spirit! Renew the face of the earth through me!
Amen.