Leaders in the Spirit

The title of the first episode of Fr Robert Barron’s magnificent and moving video series Catholicism is “Amazed and afraid”. It takes the viewer to the site of the passage from the Gospel of Matthew in the texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary. Simon Peter responds to Jesus question without fear or hesitation. Jesus explains that the truth spoken by Peter is a revelation to him by God of Jesus nature. Paddy Gilger SJ explores how we need to be open to the revelation and guidance of the Holy Spirit in the manner of the escape of Peter from prison described in the text today from the Book of Acts. The Spirit called Peter to act through the inspiration of an angel and only after Peter had come to his senses did he realize that he had truly been freed through an act of God. Our decision to follow Christ brings us to similar situations which require that we move in faith and trust as the Spirit calls us. Paddy Gilger cites Pope Francis and some commentary on St Ignatius to suggest that we need to be on the periphery to see reality from the viewpoint of a disciple of Jesus. Friar Jude Winkler explores the pastoral letter in 1 Timothy where an anonymous author writes about the life of Paul which was poured out as a libation of oil or water on the ground, thereby returning to God that which is from God. The measure of the full life which Jesus gives is the joy which His followers exude as they  attend to the mission inspired by the Spirit and protected by God. Paddy Gilger concludes “This is how we know that we lived like Peter, that our lives look like Paul’s.”