Calling on the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit as the third person of the Trinity is our advocate, guide, consoler, teacher, comforter, and encourager. As discussed in our last post, the Spirit weaves throughout our lives during good times and bad to help us along our journey towards heaven. Most often God speaks to us in a whisper, usually during silence that is hard to come by these days. He is there all the time, never absent, never leaving us alone, waiting for us to ask, listen, and respond. But how often do we actually call out, let alone listen?
Our modern mantra has become one of self-sufficiency. I’ve got it all covered. I don’t need any help. No one can do it as well as I can. It will only get messed up if I don’t do it myself. No one has time to help even if I did ask. These are all ancient lies, intended to blind our eyes and plug our ears to the presence of the Holy Spirit.
In truth, we do not have it all covered, we all need help, and there is someone waiting to provide a kind of assistance that can get the job done better than we could ever do ourselves. Read Psalm 139 for a clear reminder of how dearly and intimately God knows us, “O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways…In your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me.” Jesus teaches in the Gospel of Matthew that every hair on our head is numbered by God (Mt 10:30). In his Confessions, St. Augustine wrote that God is “more intimately present to me than my innermost being.” A god that takes that much care to be with us and know us is one that we should remember to call on and listen to.
What does this look like? In my work as an oncologist, there are often difficult situations and complex problems to address. There may not be an easy or satisfactory solution to many challenges. A prayer that I say on my drive to work helps frame the day: “Holy Spirit, help me to see Jesus’ face in all those patients and colleagues that I interact with today. Give me the words of counsel, wisdom, and compassion to guide my patients to healing and peace.” When my schedule gets tight and tasks pile up in clinic, I ask “Holy Spirit, give me the strength to get through this and take good care of everyone that needs my help.” When a patient’s tears flow with the receipt of bad news from unwanted results, my plea becomes “Holy Spirit, be here with us, comfort this patient in their suffering, give them courage.” As I leave work at the end of the day, “Holy Spirit, keep watch over all of my patients. Grant them a peaceful night.”
And what about the patient side of the equation? Have you asked the Holy Spirit to help you to better understand the complicated choices that you face? To help you make the best decision for your next treatment, despite not knowing what the benefit or side effects will be like for you? For lessening of your suffering, or if that is not possible, then for the strength and courage to bear what you must? To be granted the graces of faith, trust, and surrender to God’s will, when you feel like you are losing control as you face the passing of your days and approach the finish line of your race? These and many others are important times when we can invoke the Holy Spirit to counsel, protect, and comfort us.
The answer doesn’t always come immediately. The pain doesn’t magically disappear. The worry and confusion don’t just melt right away. But with patience and the open eyes and ears of faith, we will notice a change. Just a little movement in the right direction. Just that little bit of extra strength or courage to help us take the next step. Just a little bit more peace in our souls, regardless of what comes next. Calling on the Holy Spirit takes so little and gives so much. Give it a try and see what happens!
