Convicts and conviction

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today connect with convicts and convictions.

Opportunity for the Spirit

In the Acts of the Apostles, the false imprisonment of Paul and Silas leads to the conversion of their jailer and his family.

In the Gospel from John, Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as coming to the apostles as a Paraclete who in a forensic way will convict those who have rejected Jesus.

* [16:8–11] These verses illustrate the forensic character of the Paraclete’s role: in the forum of the disciples’ conscience he prosecutes the world. He leads believers to see (a) that the basic sin was and is refusal to believe in Jesus; (b) that, although Jesus was found guilty and apparently died in disgrace, in reality righteousness has triumphed, for Jesus has returned to his Father; (c) finally, that it is the ruler of this world, Satan, who has been condemned through Jesus’ death (Jn 12:32).

The meditation on Acts 16:22-34 from Word Among Us encourages our “unusual” acts of mercy and love.

Likewise, our “unusual” acts of mercy and love instead of revenge and bitterness can move people today. This is especially true when our acts are coupled with prayer. So go ahead and be unusual. Try your best to let your gifts of kindness, generosity, and mercy draw people, especially your loved ones, toward God.

Joe Zaborowski prays to be convicted by the Advocate and hopefully answers to his questions  will become apparent as he walks the journey of life and the path towards salvation.

The question that has been turning in my heart is where my spiritual journey will take me. With the freedom of extra time is the responsibility to grow spiritually and more importantly to give back to the world as Christ has asked. This can only happen with prayer, discernment and relying on the Holy Spirit. How the Spirit moves me can come in many forms: Reading scripture, a papal exhortation, working with a spiritual advisor, prayer or just walking in the street and seeing an injustice which needs to be remedied.

Don Schwager comments on the work of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus tells his disciples three very important things about the work of the Holy Spirit - to convince the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment. The original word for convince also means convict. The Holy Spirit is our Sanctifier. He makes us holy as God is holy. He does this first by convicting us of our unbelief and sin and by bringing us humbly to the foot of the Cross. The Spirit convinces us of God's love and forgiveness and of our utter dependence on God for his mercy and grace. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to lead us from the error of our unbelief and sinful ways and to show us the way of love and truth.

Friar Jude Winkler reflects on the situation described in Acts as turning a disaster into an opportunity of grace. The Paraclete, advocate, and counselor makes clear the one sin in the Gospel of John is the rejection of Jesus who has been proven righteous in His return to the Father. Satan has chosen to live outside of God.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, quotes William J. Barber II who recalls the conviction of Martin Luther King, Jr that the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.

It takes a contemplative, nondual mind to see foundational oneness—that we truly are “in the same boat.” The first philosophical problem of “the one and the many” is overcome in God as Trinity. The Trinity reveals that God is precisely diversity maintained (“Father,” “Son,” and “Holy Spirit”) and yet that same diversity overcome (God is One by reason of the infinite love shared between the Three). Each of the Three perfectly loves and is perfectly loved. And all is created in imitation of this divine shape of Reality. As of yet, we humans have neither done unity nor diversity very well. We have not solved the essential problem that was already resolved in God.

Paul teaches the Corinthians about the Gifts of the Spirit that we may invoke for our mission.

References


(n.d.). Acts CHAPTER 16 Retrieved May 8, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/bible/acts/16:22

(n.d.). John CHAPTER 16 Retrieved May 8, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/john16.htm (n.d.). 6th Week of Easter - Mass Readings and Catholic Daily Meditations .... Retrieved May 8, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations

(n.d.). Creighton Online Ministries - Creighton University. Retrieved May 8, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/online.html

(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 8, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/

(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archive - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 8, 2018, from https://cac.org/richard-rohr/daily-meditations/daily-meditations-archive/