the spirit unveils the word
"But whenever he turns to the Lord, the veil will be removed." —2 Corinthians 3:16
At the age of twenty-one, I was blessed to take part in a Life in the Spirit seminar. During the fifth week, the team members laid hands on me to be baptized in the Holy Spirit (see Acts 8:17; 19:5-6). I had been reading the Bible every day for some time. The next day, I picked up my Bible for my daily Bible study. When I began reading the Scripture, the Word of God came alive in a new way. It was as though I could smell the dust on the road and hear the apostles speaking. It was like watching a grainy black and white movie and suddenly the movie was in crisp, glorious color. The Spirit had removed the veil that was obscuring my understanding. The Bible suddenly made sense. Many decades later, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are still opening my eyes to the understanding of the Scriptures (see Lk 24:32, 45). All praise be to God!
We have just experienced the feast of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit. Turn to the Lord (2 Cor 3:16) and beg for a new Pentecost, a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Rm 5:5). When we turn to the Lord, that is, the Spirit (2 Cor 3:17), the veil is removed (2 Cor 3:16, 18). The Holy Spirit is the Author of the Bible. We can always understand a book more clearly if we can sit with the author and ask what he or she meant when writing their work. How much more can we understand the Word of God with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit! Ask for the Holy Spirit (Lk 11:13).
Prayer: Father, how merciful You are to allow me to serve You, the omnipotent and almighty One. Renew me in Your love.
Promise: "Near indeed is His salvation to those who fear Him, glory dwelling in our land." —Ps 85:10
Praise: St. Anthony's life changed when the bodies of five Franciscan martyrs were returned from Morocco to his native Portugal. Though never martyred, he poured out his life for Christ.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 24, 2018
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