Espiritu Santo

Posted On 2023-06-02 In Covenant Life

Soul of my soul

By Manuel de la Barreda, Madrid, Spain • 

“Soul of my Soul.” This is what Fr. Kentenich calls the Holy Spirit in his prayer (Heavenwards, 639), the defender promised by Jesus Christ to the apostles (Jn 16:7), who will make them understand the whole teaching of Christ and through him they will be able to perform great wonders. “These are the signs that will accompany those who believe: In my name they’ll drive out demons, they’ll speak in new languages, and they’ll pick up snakes with their hands. Even if they drink any deadly poison, it won’t hurt them, and they’ll place their hands on the sick, and they’ll recover.”.” (Mk 16:17-18). —

This is how it is described in the Gospel, but we often relegate it and forget it. We reject, by virtue of rationality, these marvels that God grants us.

We men are limited and cannot embrace all the greatness of God. We are overwhelmed by it and as we have become more complicated and rational in our lives, we have turned away from that which is truth.

We feel more comfortable praying to the Virgin Mary, because we understand what a mother is. Or to the Father, for the same reason. And to Jesus himself, man, after all, but the Holy Spirit is beyond our reach.

“I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from wise and intelligent people and have revealed them to infants. 26 Yes, Father, because this is what was pleasing to you.” (Mt 11:25-26). Those who are simple understand God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He lives his love and enjoys his gifts, which he offers us, freely, even the most astonishing for our reasoning.

Our brothers of the Charismatic Renewal do live these gifts and enjoy them. They praise God without ceasing, and God, through the Spirit, works wonders.

Alma de mi alma

Our mission is to proclaim the Gospel in real life

But let us not forget one thing. The most important mission Jesus gives us before ascending to heaven. “Then he told them, “As you go into the entire world, proclaim the gospel to everyone. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever doesn’t believe will be condemned.” (Mk16:15-16). Before the signs that will accompany us, before casting out demons or being immune to poisons, our mission, our main mission is to proclaim the Gospel so that our brothers may believe, be baptized and be saved. So the question is, am I doing what Jesus himself commands me to do? I may not be a great preacher and I may not have a platform to do so, but what about my life?

“Your life is the only Bible that many people will read” says an anonymous saying. It is there, in my life, where I can give life to Jesus’ command. In my work, in my social life, with my friends, in my family, in my community of life, in my prayer, in my devotion, in my praise, in my charity, in my sacrifice, in my generosity, in my dedication, in my perseverance, in my humility, in my forgiveness, in my joy, in my good humor, in my singing, in my weeping, in my mourning, in my sadness, in my hope… in each and every aspect of my life I can proclaim the Gospel of Jesus.

And the Holy Spirit will work wonders

Let’s do it!!!! He, Jesus, has given his life for me, he loves me and counts on me. He gives me his Mother, the Blessed Mother, who accompanies and educates me. We must make our life organic.

Now, God’s love for us, which is his Good News, is a patient love that knows our reality. That is why he “only” asks us to believe in him and proclaim him. The rest has already been taken care of on the cross. He counts on our sin and weakness, although he does not want us to abandon ourselves to them, but rather to try to be faithful and coherent to the best of our ability. In Jn 8:11, Jesus says to the adulterous woman, “I don’t condemn you, either. Go home, and from now on don’t sin anymore”. He does not condemn us. He knows what we are made of. But he asks us for action, effort, knowing that only with him, and not by ourselves, will we be able to follow him.

And the Holy Spirit will work wonders.

Galilea

Original: Spanish 2023-05-31. Translated by: María Aragón, Monterrey, México

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