"really?"
"Do you really believe?" —John 16:31
Jesus' disciples professed their faith by stating: "We are convinced that You know everything. There is no need for anyone to ask You questions. We do indeed believe You came from God" (Jn 16:30). Jesus responded with the question: "Really?" When we profess our faith, does Jesus respond "Amen" or "Really?" Do we mean what we say or are we self-deceived?
The human heart is tortuous, twisted, deceitful (Jer 17:9). The Holy Spirit flees deceit (see Wis 1:5). Therefore, the human heart not only can refuse to accept the Spirit, but even repel the Spirit. Because we cannot please God without the Spirit (see Rm 8:8-9), our deceit and its effect on the Spirit puts us in an impossible situation. Our only Hope is the Lord, Who can change the most hardened, deceitful heart.
On this fourth day of the novena to the Holy Spirit, consecrate your life to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Give Jesus everything, repent of your sins, and ask Him to create in you a clean heart (Ps 51:12). The Sacred Heart of Jesus will cleanse your heart from deceit and give you a new heart (see Ez 36:26). With this new and clean heart, you will not repel the Holy Spirit but embrace Him. You will mean what you say and no longer deceive yourself or others.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. Prepare our hearts to receive the Spirit!
Prayer: Father, may I let Mary lay bare the thoughts of my heart (Lk 2:35) to prepare for Jesus to change my heart.
Promise: "As Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came down on them and they began to speak in tongues and to utter prophecies. There were in the company about twelve men in all." —Acts 19:6-7
Praise: Mark had thought himself a believer in Christ until he faced a family crisis and then he really began to understand the depths of God's love.
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 23, 2007
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