Parish Novena to the Holy Spirit
Day Four: Tuesday 26th May 2020
The Gift of Counsel
The
Gift of Counsel, bestowed on us by the Holy Spirit, allows us to make the right
decisions in life. Decisions and judgements that lead us to be more faithful to
Jesus Christ our Lord.
‘I will bless
the Lord who gives me counsel,
who even at
night directs my heart.
I keep the
Lord ever in my sight:
since he is
at my right hand, I shall stand firm.’ (Psalm 15:7-8)
The
Psalmist, in the above quote, gives us this wonderful image of a person who at
night is still being shaped and moulded by God. It is at night that we usually
sleep. Our bodies finally rest at the end of the day and we cease all movement
and thought, we become inactive. However, as the Psalmist expresses, though we
may be inactive at night the Holy Spirit is very much active, working within
our hearts to guide us, direct us and inspire us to choose the right ways and
make the good decisions. It is these right choices that will lead us to choose
God and in so doing find true happiness, perfect peace and everlasting life.
We
have all seen this classic image in the above cartoon! An individual is
confronted with a dilemma and they are compelled to make a choice. They begin
to discern and weigh up the pros and cons and confront the inner struggle. Do
they listen to the Angel on the one shoulder or the devil on the other
shoulder? Who do you normally listen to?
Away
from the cartoon image we all find ourselves confronted with daily decisions
and choices. Some are minor from ‘What shall we have for tea tonight?’
Others are a little more serious, ‘Is this person/issue causing problems in
my life and do I need to step away and distance myself from them/it?; Does
my mouth get me into trouble by my gossip, distortion of truth and facts and
ill-informed criticisms and judgements?’ While other decisions are life
changing, ‘Shall I apply for that job? Shall I ask her to marry me? Do I step
out of my comfort zone, let go of being in control and offer more of myself to
God?’ When I have had to make a serious or life changing decision I’ve
found it useful to seek out advice from others and have a trustworthy person
who I can use as a soundboard. It has been through others guidance, stories of
their own experience and listening to different viewpoints that have all
contributed to making a better informed choice about future actions.
Our
Holy Father, Pope Francis, when he gave a General Audience at St. Peter’s
Square in 2014 spoke about the Holy Spirit being our trustworthy friend and
wise confidant when help is needed to make the right choices.
‘When we receive and welcome him into our heart, the Holy Spirit
immediately begins to make us sensitive to his voice and to guide our thoughts,
our feelings and our intentions according to the heart of God. At the same
time, he leads us more and more to turn our interior gaze to Jesus, as the
model of our way of acting and of relating with God the Father and with the
brethren.’
As we mentioned yesterday on our novena
pilgrimage, we cannot just be a passive object in relation to the Holy Spirit,
we are called to exercise and use the gifts he gives us. With the Gift of
Counsel it is fundamental to have some knowledge about the circumstances and
challenges that confront us in life. It is important that we actually know the
teachings of Jesus passed on through his Apostles to the Church. Many people
fall into the trap of assuming they know this or that teaching and have formed
hard and solid opinions about it.
However,
as I have found as a priest when you show them the actual words Jesus and
unpack the teaching of the Lord there is often the reaction ‘Oh, I never knew
that!’. If we are to call ourselves disciples then we need to know the Word of
God, his teachings and the Tradition handed on from Christ to the Apostles. We
cannot base our ideas, notions and values on the world around us because as the
Lord said:
‘I passed
your word on to them, and the world hated them,
because they
belong to the world no more than I belong to the world.
I am not
asking you to remove them from the world, but to protect them from the evil
one. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.
Consecrate
them in the truth; your word is truth.’ (Jn
17:14-17)
Life,
Family, Marriage, Sexuality, Social Justice and Education are all areas that,
sadly, many people are making the wrong decisions in because they have not
turned to Jesus to see his actions and hear his words that lead us to walk the
right path. It is working with the gift of Counsel from the Holy Spirit that we
are truly able to say: ‘I am a real disciple who is doing my best, Come Holy
Spirit help me to follow the Lord. Amen.’
Veni Creator
Spiritus
Come, Holy
Spirit, Creator come,
From your
bright heavenly throne!
Come, take
possession of our souls,
And make them
all your own.
You who are
called the Paraclete,
Best gift of
God above,
The living
spring, the living fire,
Sweet
unction, and true love!
You who are
sevenfold in your grace,
Finger of
God's right hand,
His promise,
teaching little ones
To speak and
understand!
O guide our
minds with your blessed light,
With love our
hearts inflame,
And with your
strength which never decays
Confirm our
mortal frame.
Far from us
drive our hellish foe
True peace
unto us bring,
And through
all perils guide us safe
Beneath your
sacred wing.
Through you
may we the Father know,
Through you
the eternal Son
And you the
Spirit of them both
Thrice-blessed
three in one.
All glory to
the Father be,
And to the
risen Son;
The same to
you, O Paraclete,
While endless
ages run.
Amen.
In
our quiet few moments on today’s novena journey let us take time to ponder on
the gift of Counsel. Is the right decision the easiest one? Will it cost me
both personally and publicly? What are the fruits it will bear and will they
blossom immediately? If I listen to my ego what effects will that have not only
on those around me but also on my soul? How have the choices of ‘I’ and ‘Me’
disfigured Christ’s face to those around me and the wider world? How often do I
cry from the heart ‘Come, O Holy Spirit’ before I begin a task or make a
judgement?
Come,
Holy Spirit
Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts
of your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of your love.
V. Send forth your Spirit and they
shall be created.
R. And you shall renew the face of
the earth.
Let us pray:
O God, who taught the hearts of the
faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that by the gift of the same
Spirit we may be always truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolation. Through
Christ our Lord. Amen.
God
Bless and keep praying.
We
continue on day five of our Novena pilgrimage tomorrow.
Fr. O’Brien