Tuesday December 1, 2020 - Year B

Intimacy

In Isaiah 11:1-10 we read a prophecy about the coming Messiah, a list of his virtues, and how he will unite all nations into a glorious kingdom.

Likewise, in Psalm 72, a psalm of King Solomon, which no doubt initially referred to his reign over Israel, hails the king’s justice and other righteous qualities, and is no doubt a type of Christ to come; especially when the emphasis is on an eternal dominion.

Both of these readings are alluding to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. And in our Gospel reading of Luke 10:21-24 today we see Jesus rejoicing in the Holy Spirit that these gifts have been given not to the wise and understanding but to those who are childlike and have put faith in God first.

By praying to the Father publicly amongst his followers we get a glimpse of the intimacy between Father and Son. And when we couple the gifts of the Holy Spirit to our lives we realize that we too have been chosen for this intimacy. These gifts are meant to be the re-connection to our lives with God that were so carelessly lost by our first parents in the garden. They are our link with the Divine.

The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord.

They find their fullness in Christ. And they are readily available for all the faithful to help us perfect our virtues and make us docile in obeying divine inspiration.

Jesus wants you to share in the intimacy he has with the Father. What are you waiting for? Are you afraid? Do you feel unworthy?

Get over yourself, put your faith first and just let go.

ttg