Tag: Holy Spirit

Our Struggles … in the Heavens

Some things we experience are so disturbing, for example battles between peoples, the arising of wars, but also fights between individuals, and even struggels within ourselves, that it is difficult to find an explanation, a way to understand. In this distress, the Bible offers a way of interpretation:

“For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.” (Eph 6:12)

The enormity of strife and terror can be so overwhelming that an explanation within the framework of our worldly categories is not sufficient in order to comprehend and understand. It is some consolation for us to believe that what is fought out on earth has a counterpart in the spiritual worlds, in the heavens.

“I have seen Satan fall like lightning from heaven”. (Lk 10:18), Jesus said when he rejoiced that his disciples could cast out demons in his name. If this is so, then when we see a hopeless situation on earth, we can turn to our Lord Himself to help us with His spiritual powers and fight the evil from above. This will make all the difference. We can ask him to send his Holy Spirit, whose fruit is peace, joy, gentleness, patience, and self-control, and who is stronger than any evil spirit. And we can turn to Mary, the Mother of God; at the birth of her Son angels proclaimed peace on earth. May she also intercede for us from heaven.

Holy Mary Mother of God, Mother of Grace, You are called the Queen of Peace. We bring you the whole of humanity with its fears and hopes and we ask you: Guide us all in our search for freedom and justice. Guide the steps of all people on the path of peace. Be close to those who suffer and those who flee. Be close to those who govern us to dare to take the steps of peace. O Mary, Mother of God and our Mother!

Unfeigned Love To Superiors

Many of us – in one way or another – have superiors, directors, bosses. It’s interesting how St. Benedict wants to see the relationship to superiors from the point of view of subordinates. He says, “To their abbot the monks should have unfeigned and humble love” (RB 72:10).

This makes me think that sometimes we fake our “love” for superiors in our own favor. And we have our reasons for doing so: We expect benefits. Or we want to protect ourselves by not showing what we really think and feel. We have had bad experiences with being honest with them. So Benedict’s recommendation sounds like quite a challenge.

His advice can certainly only be understood in a monastic context. Here there is a community, a spiritual community. Its leader is elected and is to take the place of Christ. It is Christ whom we are to love humbly and sincerely. But we can also learn something from Benedict in the general context. If we are not honest in our relationship with our superiors, they cannot learn, they cannot grow, the company or organization they serve cannot progress. Instead, if we speak our minds humbly and not opinionatedly, humility will protect us. I think this is especially important in the church context. How do we speak to our pastors, to our bishops, to people in a “higher” spiritual position? There are too many yes-men. There are people who cultivate a kind of courtly behavior. One says “yes” to the superior when he says “yes”, one says “no” when he says “no”. You can recognize kippers. They tip over. Their backs are not straight. The Latin word for unfeigned sincera is translated in German as aufrichtig, which means upright.

The first Christians spoke sincerely and frankly, as we often hear in the Acts of the Apostles (e.g., Acts 13:46). They presented themselves with the boldness and courage that the Holy Spirit gave them. “But it is something we cannot understand how these people are so courageous, they have this boldness” (Acts 4:13). When we speak, we should have more respect for God, who really has power over us, than for people who depend on God. Benedict invites us to be genuine and straightforward.

Lord, give me the courage to be frank when I speak. Give me the wisdom to be prudent. Build your Church among us by creating a network of people who are sincere with each other. Give me and all who have leadership roles the humility to truly serve and learn from those for whom we are responsible. Send your Holy Spirit and fill us with his gifts!