God Plays the LOOOOooooong Game

I know, from the graphic you probably expected a post on the theory of evolution.  No, but I am writing about evolution of another sort - evolution of the heart.  Spiritual "evolution," like material evolution, is a work of Divine Providence; and today's Gospel reading furnishes us with an example:

When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem.
When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?" Jesus turned and rebuked them,
and they journeyed to another village. (Lk 9:51-56)

I know what you're thinking, "Alright Kapler, where's the evolution?"  Well, contrast both the Samaritans and the Apostle John's behavior here with what we read in Acts of the Apostles:

Philip went down to a city of Samar′ia, and proclaimed to them the Christ.  And the multitudes with one accord gave heed to what was said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs which he did …

Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samar′ia had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit;  for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. 

(Acts 8:5-6, 14-17)

Back in the Gospel, Jesus didn't want any part of John's plan to destroy the Samaritans.  No, the Lord looked ahead to the day when they would receive Him!  God is forbearing.  Instead of swooping in with automatic divine justice, He waits patiently for us to open ourselves to Him. (I'm not saying that He will wait forever; He does have a day appointed for judgment.)

But these two passages bear witness to the power of God's grace to work on us, and in us, over the passage of time.  And I'm not just talking about the Samaritans - I see great significance in the fact that it was John who accompanied Peter to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation to them!  The John who wanted to call down the fire of judgment upon the people of that region found himself, just a few short years later, laying his hands upon them and praying for the coming of the Spirit.  

And you have to love the Lord's sense of humor: John did "call down fire from heaven to consume them" (Lk 9:54), but it was the same fire that had consumed him on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:3) - the Holy Spirit Himself!

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Disclaimer - I have no proof that it is the same village/city of the Samaritans being spoken of in Luke and Acts.  These were the thoughts that struck me as I meditated on today's Gospel; and I offer them to you in all humility.

 

... And What About Those "Traditional" Gifts of the Holy Spirit?

I had a great time talking with Sean Herriot earlier today on Relevant Radio’s Morning Air.  We started off talking about my last post on the charisms of the Holy Spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12, but the focus quickly shifted to talking about the way Confirmation both opens us to these gifts as well as releases the “Traditional” Gifts of the Spirit.  So what are the Traditional Gifts, and where do we hear of them in Scripture?

The come from the Book of Isaiah, in a prophecy about the coming Messiah.  

 “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord – and he will delight in the fear of the Lord” (Is.11:2).

These are the gifts that the Holy Spirit poured out on Jesus’ human nature.  When you and I were baptized, we were united to Jesus’ human nature –as spiritual infants.  In the Sacrament of Confirmation we are incorporated even more deeply into Jesus, so that the gifts lavished upon His humanity are fully active within our own.

Let me say it a slightly different way:  Because we are living in Jesus we can act with the gifts the Spirit poured out on Him - His wisdom, His understanding, His counsel and strength, knowledge, awe, and fear of the Lord! We are empowered to love with His heart and think with His mind (1 Cor. 2:16)!

These seven gifts are traditional in the sense that they are always given; if you had hands laid on you in Confirmation then you have full access to these gifts – guaranteed.  (It is not so for the charisms.) 

Lets take a moment to examine these gifts in more detail.  There are different ways to group them.  I see them building upon one another:

• Fear of the Lord – the respect a child has for his/her parents. We do not stand in terror of God, but we do recognize that our Father in Heaven loves us so much that He will discipline us if need be. He loves us just as we are, but He loves us too much to let us remain the way we are!
• Piety – our realization of God’s Love for us moves us to respond to Him in prayer, both private and communal. We come to hear God’s Word for us, both from other believers and within our own souls.
• Knowledge – this entering into the Father’s Presence and listening to His Word empowers us to grow in what we know of the Truth.
• Understanding – as we seek His guidance, the Spirit leads us to penetrate this Truth, perceive its meaning for us and other believers.
• Wisdom – we are the led in applying this understanding.
• Counsel – the Spirit will guide us in making specific decisions, and
• Fortitude – strengthen us to persevere in doing what we now know to be right.

Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist – these are the Sacraments of Initiation, initiation into the very life of Christ Jesus!

Jesus	His Church
Conceived by the Holy Spirit, free from original sin.	Baptism – conceived by the Spirit and freed from original sin (and the guilt of personal sins)
Baptized in the Jordan – Anointed with the Holy Spirit and His gifts to perform His ministry	Confirmation – anointed with the Spirit, and His gifts, to participate in Jesus’ ministry
Gave Himself to the Father, completely and without reservation from the time of His conception right through His Death, Resurrection, and Ascension	Eucharist – incorporation into Jesus as He offers Himself to the Father through His Life, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension