Clash

This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.

In today’s gospel, Jesus speaks pointedly about the clash between, not just Christians, but the Holy Spirit Himself and the world. Jesus says elsewhere that He came not to condemn the world, but that it might be saved through Him (cf. Jn. 3:16); but here, He articulates in no uncertain terms that the Holy Spirit convicts those who obstinately refuse to believe in Christ. And the powers of this world, which sometimes shake us Christians to the core in fear or frustration, are nothing at all to the Holy Spirit–indeed, the Holy Spirit will show that “the ruler of this world has been condemned.”

As if in resounding echo to Jesus’ words in the Gospel, the first reading shows us the scene of an earthquake effectively brought about by that same Holy Spirit, as He frees the apostles from prison and brings about the conversion of the jailer and his family. The Holy Spirit enters into conflict with the powers of the world, who have been abusing His apostles–and the Holy Spirit wins the conflict.

He thus fulfills the prophetic psalm of today’s liturgy: “Your right hand saves me, O Lord.”

Those of us who seek to be faithful Christians stand at the epicenter of this cosmic conflict between the Holy Spirit and the sin-soaked world, striving to be His arms and legs in the monumental task of salvation and sanctification.

We may easily feel overwhelmed at our role–probably, because we often forget that we are not the Messiah, we are not a “power” that God needs to come to His aid. Rather, we are the blessed beneficiaries of HIS saving action, of His battle for His loved ones. Our humble yes is sufficient; with that, we need not fear being overwhelmed. He will come to our aid, in no less effective a way than when he freed the apostles with the earthquake.

Ideas for conversation with the Lord: Ask Jesus to help you overcome the natural tendency to think of self as protagonist. Ask Him to help you dismiss, by His powerful grace, the overwhelming self-imposed burden of thinking of self as accountable for the triumph of good. Give Him your “yes” with the trusting love and admiration of a child.