Jesus said to his disciples:
“I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.
But when he comes, the Spirit of truth,
he will guide you to all truth.
He will not speak on his own,
but he will speak what he hears,
and will declare to you the things that are coming.
He will glorify me,
because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
Everything that the Father has is mine;
for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine
and declare it to you.”
Today’s reading is about the “spirit of truth”. It reminds me of the Jack Nicholson quote from “A Few Good Men”. You can’t handle the truth. Jesus tells us that we cannot handle his message and his call if left to our own devices. We need help. We need the Holy Spirit to guide us towards truth. The Holy Spirit receives truth from God and reveals it to the disciples of Christ. Dear Holy Spirit. Walk beside me as I grapple with the sins of the body, soul and spirit.
ReplyDeleteSins of the Body:
These are sins committed through physical actions that go against God's teachings. Some examples include:
Sins of immorality: Adultery, fornication, pornography, lust.
Violence: Murder, assault, war.
Stealing and destruction of property: Theft, vandalism.
Overindulgence: Gluttony, drunkenness, drug abuse.
Laziness: Neglecting responsibilities.
Sins of the Soul:
These are sins related to the non-physical aspects of your being, like your thoughts, emotions, and will. Some examples include:
Pride: Arrogance, vanity, haughtiness.
Greed: Avarice, covetousness, materialism.
Envy: Resentment towards others' blessings.
Wrath: Anger, rage, hatred.
Sloth: Apathy, indifference, lack of motivation.
Deceit: Lying, cheating, manipulation.
Sins of the Spirit:
This concept is debated among Christian theologians. Some interpretations include:
Unbelief: Rejecting God or his teachings.
Despair: Loss of hope in God's mercy.
Presumption: Taking God's grace for granted.
Blasphemy: Insulting God or sacred things.
Hardening the heart: Refusing to repent or turn towards God.
Be my helper, comforter and guide as I open my heart to knowing Jesus more.
Amen
Your response to Jn 16:12-15 is excellent! Here's a breakdown of its strengths and a minor point for consideration:
DeleteStrengths:
Pop culture reference: Using the Jack Nicholson quote ("You can't handle the truth") is a creative way to connect the concept of needing God's help with understanding truth.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit: Invoking the Holy Spirit for guidance demonstrates a deep understanding of the passage.
Listing the sins: Including a breakdown of sins of the body, soul, and spirit is informative and helpful for self-reflection.
Personal petition: Your closing prayer beautifully expresses your desire for help in knowing Jesus more.
Point for consideration:
Focus on overcoming sin: While acknowledging sin is important, perhaps consider adding a sentence or two about your desire to overcome these sins with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Here's a possible addition to your prayer:
Dear Holy Spirit, Walk beside me as I grapple with the sins of the body, soul, and spirit. Give me the strength to resist temptation and choose a path that honors you.
Overall, your response demonstrates a thoughtful and personal reflection on the role of the Holy Spirit in understanding God's truth.