Partnership of the Paraclete

Sharing the Good News with the help of the Holy Spirit

05/08/2018

Acts of the apostles 16:11-15 We set sail from Troas, making a straight run for Samothrace, and on the next day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, a leading city in that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We spent some time in that city. On the sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river where we thought there would be a place of prayer. We sat and spoke with the women who had gathered there. One of them, a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened, and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying. After she and her household had been baptized, she offered us an invitation, "If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home," and she prevailed on us.

The job of a priest can easily feel extremely overwhelming. Jesus gave us our basic “marching orders” at the end of the gospel of Matthew 28:19-20. Jesus commanded his first captains: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” And how are we supposed to accomplish this daunting duty? Basically, we are armed with Scriptures, the Sacraments and our good looks. The prospects of success are bleak at best.

But we see a glimmer of hope and encouragement when we remember we have Someone on the inside. That is, we priests preach the Good news and our words hit people’s ears. But the Holy Spirit resides inside people’s hearts and whispers words that echo and enlarge what we say. Sometimes when I feel I have delivered a sub-par homily, someone will come up to me afterwards and exclaim: “That’s exactly what I needed to hear today!” The real efficacy of evangelization depends not so much on my efforts, but on the work and the words of the Holy Spirit. That’s why the rest of Matthew 28:20 provides these comforting words: “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” Priests always have a partner, Someone on the inside, the Holy Spirit.

This partnership with the Paraclete (the name sometimes attributed to the Spirit) is demonstrated again and again in the Acts of the Apostles; indeed, it is the source of all the confidence of the apostles. For instance, in Acts 16, St. Paul and companions arrive in Philippi. They share their good news with whomever they meet, utilizing all the persuasive power of the Scriptures, the sacraments and their good looks! And what happens? We read: “One of them, a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened, and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying.” She and her household were later baptized. Paul and the other apostles were undeterred and undaunted by Jesus’ commission to go to the whole world and convert everyone on earth to Christ. Why? Well, because they knew they had Someone on the inside, whispering to every heart, and so they marched forth cheerfully to meet the challenge.

My friends, every Christian must shoulder the struggle to share the Good News. Evangelization may be a priest’s “official job, “ but it is every Christian’s “unofficial job.” And your arena of evangelization begins with your family and friends, your immediate sphere of influence, your inner circle. But don’t feel discouraged by thinking all you have to rely on are the Scriptures, the sacraments and your good looks. Some of you may feel more discouraged than others. You also have Someone on the inside, a partner called the Paraclete. I know evangelization can seem impossible when we see so many people leave the Catholic Church, maybe even close family and friends.

But take heart in these words by Pope Francis from his recent exhortation called “Be Glad and Rejoice.” The pope reminds us: “Do not be dismayed, for the power of the Holy Spirit enables you to do this, and holiness, in the end, is the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life” (Gaudate et exultate, 15).  Your partner, the Paraclete, will whisper in the heart of your spouse, in the heart of your children, in the heart of your neighbor. But most importantly he will whisper in your own heart how good the Good News is. When your partner is the Holy Spirit nothing feels impossible.

Praised be Jesus Christ!