Christ Jesus, help me speak with your Holy Spirit ...

Acts 6:8-15

There are two sides to every crucifix.  On one side the corpus of Christ is fixed, representing his –and our own- diminishment, anguish and all that pins us to the walls of this life.  On the other side is the bare wood proclaiming forever and in all ways the newness of resurrection, ‘standing up again’.  It is a win-win situation!  Jesus is with me on whichever side of the crucifix I find myself at any given time.  Stephen, a man ‘full of grace’ and power, and the first martyr of the early church seemed to be with Jesus in his resurrected form; he did great wonders and signs among the people.  But jealous compatriots stood up to condemn him, fixing him with Jesus to the cross of Good Friday.  How did Stephen respond? He spoke with wisdom and with the Spirit of God. So much was he in tune with the Holy Spirit that his ‘face was like the face of an angel’.  Whichever side of the cross I find myself, do I speak from despair, or ‘with the Holy Spirit’? Christ Jesus, help me at all times to speak with your Holy Spirit.

Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes. (Psalm 119) 

Men and women desire to have authority that they may command and control others, and live uncommanded and uncontrolled themselves.  
St. Thomas Moore

Soli gloriam dei .