Sober in the Morning

Learning how the Holy Spirit teaches us everything

John 14:15-16, 23B-26

Jesus said to his disciples: “If you love me,  you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always. “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Those who do not love me do not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me. “I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.”

          High school is an amazing time in the life of a young person. Not only are you learning all kinds of things, everything from algebra to Alaska, but most especially you’re learning about yourself. You’re beginning to answer that agonizing question, “Who am I??” Now, of all the things you learn about yourself, you also begin to see that you have both talents and abilities, but also weaknesses and shortcomings. Have you noticed that? For instance, some of you are super-smart, brainiacs, and make great grades in school. You may feel like Mark Twain, the famous American satirist, who once said, “When I was fourteen, my father was so ignorant, I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.” So, be patient, you graduates still have 4 more years before you parents become really smart.

          On the other hand, some of you may have discovered weaknesses and character flaws in yourself, like some of you may drink too much. But fear not, you’re in good company, apparently, Winston Churchill, the famed British Prime Minister, was fond of imbibing too much, too. One day at a state dinner, when Churchill had had a few too many, another member of Parliament, named Bessie Braddock, was disgusted with his behavior and said to Churchill: “You sir, are drunk!” To which the prime minister rejoined, “And you, Bessie, are ugly. But I shall be sober in the morning while you will still be ugly.” You see, you are beginning to know yourself in high school; you’ve discovered some of your strengths and maybe even a few of your weaknesses.

          In the gospel today, Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles. He says, “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything.” Now, obviously the Holy Spirit guides the Church, especially the pope and bishops, and “teaches them everything” concerning faith and morals, what we believe (that’s faith) and how we should live (that’s morality). But I don’t think the Spirit stops there. I am convinced that the Spirit also teaches the ordinary, run-of-the-mill Christian many things, too. In other words, the reason these past four years you’ve learned so much about yourself is thanks to the work of the Holy Spirit, teaching you who you are. You see, besides your biology teacher and your algebra teacher, your cheer instructor, and your football coach, the Holy Spirit has been your Teacher, too. Jesus said, “The Holy Spirit will teach you everything.”

           Let me share some of the amazing things the Holy Spirit has been teaching the seniors we want to honor this evening. For instance, both Courtney Banning and Lani Meares were recognized as FCA Elite students. That means that not only are these two girls great athletes, they’re also great Christians. The Holy Spirit taught them that. Arkansas Tech University bestowed two high achievement awards on our graduates. Eric Maestri won the “Second Century Scholar” award and Emily Maestri received the “Distinguished Scholar” award. That was the Holy Spirit. Cooper Johnson was named the Arkansas Times MVP. When he runs the ball, it only takes 5 defensive men to bring him down. That was the Holy Spirit. Have you seen Tyson Mahoney play basketball? He plays like that even after blowing out his knee last year. And his mom, Stephanie, is not too shabby either, she ran track at the University of Arkansas and inducted into the Southside Hall of Fame. That was the Holy Spirit.

          Daniela Infante didn’t receive the John Paul Spradlin scholarship for being a couch potato; she got it because she’s smart and she serves others. That’s the Holy Spirit. Braxton Smith received over $87,500 worth of scholarships money to go to college. That’s the Holy Spirit. One parishioner said that Josie Didion was worth more than 5 adult helpers. That’s the Holy Spirit. Now, Josie did go to the prom with Edgar Garcia, and I’m not sure that was the Holy Spirit at all. Just kidding! Now, I could go on and on but my point is that it’s the Holy Spirit that teaches you what gifts you’ve been given, and helps you to develop those gifts.

          But I hope the Spirit has also helped you see your weaknesses and shortcomings, too. The great spiritual masters teach us that each person has a weakness called a “predominant fault,” a temptation that always causes us to fall on our face. This is like the famous “heel” of the great Greek warrior Achilles. Achilles could not be defeated in battle, except for his heel, the only place he was vulnerable. You and I also have an Achilles heel, a serious and deadly vulnerability, and the Holy Spirit can help us discover it and overcome it. For some of you it may be alcohol, for others it will be sex, for others it may be money and possessions, and still for others it maybe your appearance or vanity. For others, it’s depression or anorexia or cutting. Do you know what your predominant fault is? No? Then maybe you should ask the Holy Spirit to teach you. Jesus said, “The Holy Spirit will teach you everything.”

          Have you ever heard of the classic prayer to the Holy Spirit called “Come, Holy Spirit”? If you know it, pray it with me now, if not, just mumble it like you do with other prayers. In this prayer, we ask the Holy Spirit to teach us everything, to make us wise. Let’s pray: “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth. O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of your faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit, we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolations, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.” Every morning, the Holy Spirit helps you to be sober and wise.

          Praised be Jesus Christ!