The Holy Spirit is Lord (2 Cor 3:17, 18). The Holy Spirit, being God, gives orders to us (see Acts 8:29ff) rather than taking orders from us. Paul and his fellow missionaries had to go to Galatia because the Spirit prevented them from going into Asia. Because of Paul's Spirit-led diversion, we have in our Bibles Paul's letter to the Galatians. In Galatia, Paul obviously reflected on the Holy Spirit's guidance, for he tells the Galatians and us:

• "God lavishes the Spirit on you" (Gal 3:5).
• "God has sent forth into our hearts the Spirit of His Son Which cries out 'Abba!' ('Father!')" (Gal 4:6)
• "It is in the Spirit that we eagerly await the justification we hope for, and only faith can yield it" (Gal 5:5).
• "The Spirit [lusts] against the flesh" (Gal 5:17).
• "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patient endurance, kindness, generosity, faith, mildness, and chastity" (Gal 5:22, 23).

Sadly, many have stifled (1 Thes 5:19), saddened (Eph 4:30), or even opposed (Acts 7:51) the Holy Spirit. However, the Holy Spirit knows what will succeed far better than we do, and in His mercy "has revealed this wisdom to us" (1 Cor 2:10). The Spirit will instruct us in all things (Jn 14:26) and guide us to all truth (Jn 16:13) and to all places where He wants to send us, such as Galatia. Therefore, "since we live by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's lead" (Gal 5:25). Come, Holy Spirit!

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, XXX 11, 2011

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.