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| Saints John de Brebeuf and Isaac Jogues and companions |
(Audio)
For this reason, it depends on faith,
so that it may be a gift,
It is not the righteousness that comes from the law because that would come through our own efforts, giving us reason to boast, and to compare and compete with others. God wants to unite us in one family. This is not something we can earn. It is not something which admits of degrees. There would be no way to receive it if God did not give it. This is why we can't blaspheme the Holy Spirit, the very principle of the freely given gift.
Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven,
but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit
will not be forgiven.
To speak against the Spirit is to treat the gift of God with contempt. And without the gift we have nowhere to turn. There is nothing left, after conscious and complete refusal of the gift, except despair.
The Spirit is within us, moving and prompting us to acknowledge the Son of Man. Let us not resist his urgings. Let us not fear them. He himself will give us the words and show us the way.
For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.
Faith empowered by the Spirit can withstand any challenge, even when human wisdom would abandon hope. This is what Abraham showed when he believed the LORD for the promise he received.
He is our father in the sight of God,
in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead
and calls into being what does not exist.
He believed, hoping against hope,
that he would become the father of many nations,
according to what was said, Thus shall your descendants be.
The LORD has given us many promises. But we need faith to obtain them. We need to allow the Spirit within to reach out and take hold of them.
For he remembered his holy word
to his servant Abraham.
And he led forth his people with joy;
with shouts of joy, his chosen ones.
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