Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on us.

1 Corinthians 2:1-13

          When I took philosophy in college there were certain arguments that were used in class. Not arguments that were fights, but logical discussions of sorts that were used to make a point, to prove something. As it was a Catholic University, very often it was an argument to prove the existence of God. It's all very intellectual and it is difficult to deny all the steps in the argument so that you are just carried along until you come to the final (correct) conclusion. I guess there is some value in all of it from the point of view as a believer. But for me, all you need do is open your eyes and look around to show that God exists. For those that need the intellectual approach, the philosophy stuff was good. 

            The Catholic Church has many such arguments. They have spend thousands of years formulating and perfecting arguments on a whole array of subjects and they would be loath to change anything that is not in line with approved beliefs. These beliefs become self sustaining too because after such length of time, other thoughts or arguments are dismissed because not only does the church have the so called logical arguments, they have the heavy weight of tradition behind them.

           In one fell swoop though, the arguments can be dismissed by simple and utter love. Far too little emphasis or attention is placed on the movement of the Holy Spirit within the church or in our own lives. There is a name for it, Sensus Fidelium, but it does not garner the power of logic or tradition.
Ironically , it is logic and tradition, two things that Jesus railed about.

          No one could say that Jesus life and works could be logical in any way.  From the standpoint of love it makes complete sense. But to rail against the religious elite, to stand against an occupying army, to consort with women, prostitutes, tax collectors and sinners, well, the result could easily be predicted. The only logic is that it was a way to certain death.

          The Spirit that is given to us is not to be trifled with. The power of the Spirit is alive and well. It is not born of logical arguments. It is not born of a male dominated hierarchy. The Spirit is born of love because God is love and the Spirit speaks. It was recognized by St. Francis and is true today as it ever was. It's essence is spoken of in this passage. Preach the Good news at all times, use words if necessary. Dispense with the rhetoric, the logical arguments, the tradition that falsely props up an ailing church. What is needed is love and listening to the Holy Spirit. If actions preach the Gospel, what is a faithful person to see from pedophilia, cover ups, organized suppression of women, financial scandals and the rest? What made the New Pope so endearing in his first days was his actions that were counter to tradition, actions that were open and loving, actions that showed the Spirit alive.

             Allow the Spirit in, allow the Spirit to live in our actions, words are not necessary when love abounds. Jesus whole life were actions of love for us. Emulate Jesus, welcome the Holy Spirit.

When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish. But we speak God’s wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written,
‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
   nor the human heart conceived,
what God has prepared for those who love him’—
these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual.