After my younger brother came forward to thank a priest for presiding at his newborn son’s burial, he proceeded to fall into the priest’s arms with a wail from the depths of his fatherly heart. Such visceral grief for an infant who passed just before (or after) being born still touches my heart to this day, even after many years.
Grieving a significant loss or excruciating circumstance is a profound human experience, be it the death of a family member or friend, a failed marriage or terminal illness, financial ruin or abuse, etc. Such life-changing events can bring intense pain and grief affecting one’s health, well-being and faith for years, if not a lifetime.
No one in life is immune to the pain of grief. It’s as central to our human condition as the reality of the cross. Nevertheless, it’s something altogether different to be the cause of another’s grief, namely, the Holy Spirit.
St. Paul shares a deep insight at the beginning of our second reading from Ephesians, when he exhorts us, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.” Why does he urge, even admonish us not to grieve God’s Spirit?
Grieving the Holy Spirit results from selfish attitudes and actions opposed to God’s will, called sin, causing deep sorrow or offense to the third person of the Trinity. St. Paul lists five ways the Ephesians were grieving the Holy Spirit through: bitterness, fury, anger, shouting and reviling. Is it really any different today?
If disobedient and selfish children can grieve their parents, how much more do we teens and adults have a greater responsibility for not grieving the Holy Spirit “with which we were sealed for the day of redemption”?
When were we sealed with the Holy Spirit? At our baptism, when we were claimed for Christ by the sign of the cross, original sin was wiped away, the supernatural virtues of faith, hope and charity were infused in our soul, and we were welcomed as beloved sons and daughters of our heavenly Father. And then, at our confirmation, we were sealed with the seven-fold gifts of the Holy Spirit and sent to live and share the Gospel.
All this begs the question: In what ways do you and I grieve the Holy Spirit today? Here are three big ones: First, when we fail to seek a personal relationship with the God who cannot stop loving us. In other words, when we fail to make daily prayer a priority, individually and as a family. Second, when we don’t sanctify Sunday as a day of rest. In other words, we miss Sunday Mass without a serious reason in favor of extracurricular activities. Third, when we refuse to forgive. In other words, we ask for mercy for ourselves, but withhold it from others.
“Breathe on me, breath of God, fill me with life anew, that I may love the way you love, and do what you would do. Breathe on me, breath of God, until my heart is pure, until my will is one with yours, to do and to endure. Breathe on me, breath of God, so shall I never die, but live with you the perfect life for all eternity.”
Father Eilen is pastor of St. Mary of the Lake in White Bear Lake.
Sunday, Aug. 11
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
