Memorial of Saint John Baptist de la Salle, Priest

The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. But the one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy. For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift of the Spirit.

There are two conflicting voices that speak to our hearts. One is the voice of the world and speaks of earthly things such as the pursuit of power, money, and glory. It tempts us to sin or to choose the lesser goods in our lives. The other voice testifies to heavenly things like faith, hope, and love. It encourages us to give witness to our faith and to know, love, and serve God and His children. It is up to us to choose which voice to listen to and put into action. If we choose the worldly voice, then we will ground ourselves in selfishness. If we choose, the heavenly one, then we will allow the inspirations of the Holy Spirit to lift us to new heights. By accepting the guidance of the heavenly voice, we will become more and more Christ-like in our thoughts, words, and works. We will be given gifts by the Holy Spirit to accomplish God’s Will and live our lives in accord with Jesus’ teachings. And so, our hearts will expand and overflow with an abundance of life and virtues that will never end.

Do we listen to the earthly or heavenly voices in our lives? How are our lives a testimony to the trustworthiness of God? What can we do to fill ourselves with faith in the Father, hope in Jesus, and love through the Holy Spirit?

O Lord, let us never ration the gifts of your Spirit.

Amen.