Ordinary Time

January 7, 2022

Scripture Reading: Acts 8:14-17

Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

While I value the Holy Spirit greatly, I never know how to share my thoughts about the Spirit with others. John 3:8 states my dilemma well, The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’

I searched for other references to the Holy Spirit and stumbled on an old hymn with no other reference than 5 L. M. and the title Creator Spirit. I laughed when I read the last verse because it expressed well my immediate feelings about the world these days, although I never thought I might sing the word “noxious.” Here is that verse

Chase from our path each noxious foe,
And peace, the fruit of love, bestow;
And, lest our feet should go astray,
Protect and guide us on our way*.

Noxious foe may be a better descriptor than evil for what is afoot in our world today. We are being besieged on all sides by unnecessary and unmeaningful distractions. That refocuses us on issues that have little to do with the problems being addressed. The goal, I think, is to cast doubt on all information about subjects some people do not want to be brought to the forefront. Therefore, we must be diligent in our advocacy while not getting pulled into the nets of our noxious foes.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the gift of the Spirit, who will guide us not to go astray if we see such guidance. Amen.

*https://hymnary.org/hymn/HoS1864/page/14 (number 5)

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.