singing spirituals
"The spiritual man, on the other hand, can appraise everything." —1 Corinthians 2:15
The Spirit of God is teaching us everything we need to know (Jn 14:26) and guiding us to all truth (Jn 16:13). However, only the spiritual person can accept what the Spirit is teaching (1 Cor 2:13-15). The merely natural person "cannot come to know such teaching because it must be appraised in a spiritual way" (1 Cor 2:14). But we should be able to accept the Spirit's teaching, since we are spiritual persons in Christ. We became spiritual when we were baptized.
However, we must live our Baptisms, or we will prevent ourselves from appraising and receiving the teaching of the Spirit. This explains why many Christians are not hearing the Spirit's word to their churches (Rv 2:7, 11, etc.), families, neighborhoods, businesses, and countries. The words of the Spirit are truth (1 Jn 5:6) and life (see Jn 6:63). The Spirit wielding the word is our major offensive weapon in spiritual battle (Eph 6:17). We must hear the Spirit or be deceived, deprived, and defeated. Therefore, we must live our Baptisms and be spiritual persons — not only potentially, but actually.
Renew your baptismal promises. Repent. Give your life completely to Jesus. Love Him with all your heart. Then receive the Spirit, His teaching, and His life.
Prayer: Father, send the Spirit of truth to guide me to all truth (Jn 16:13).
Promise: "What is there about His speech? He commands the unclean spirits with authority and power, and they leave." —Lk 4:36
Praise: One of Pope Gregory's final actions before his death was to send a warm winter coat to a poor bishop who had none.
Reference: (For related teaching, order our leaflet, Lent and the Renewal of Our Baptismal Promises.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert J. Buschmiller, January 29, 1996
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 5, 1996