Following The Spirit Of God….

“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." – John 3:8

In this scripture passage, John is speaking to Nicodemus, who was a Pharisee on the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council.  He witnessed the miracles of Jesus, and is known for assisting in His burial. He understood that it was more important to talk to Jesus about his own soul and salvation than about government or state affairs. Yet, even with this personal connection, Nicodemus was ashamed to be seen with Jesus because religion was “out of fashion.”

We still have many “Nicodemites” in the world today. Is it because of attacks on Christianity or a lack of religious formation – or is faith just not fashionable? These are legitimate questions that are seldom discussed openly in conversation.

Acknowledging our ignorance shows a desire to be better informed. If you care about the souls of other people, especially those you love, it should be a concern. We can focus so much on heaven that we forget hell is real.  The devil doesn’t sit alone! Many think that if it cannot be proven, then it cannot be believed.  We should all be searching and helping one another get to heaven. There is only one powerful remedy for the destructive nature of sin, and it is God who gives us the necessary grace to labor as a community when doing His work.  Through the blessings of our baptism, and all the Sacraments, God directs the wind!

Our culture is very social, and the world has become very small with the infrastructure available for communication.  This can be a good thing – but beware of the dark influences that also plague this essential interaction.  The term “social media” is overused, and sometimes abused with the time we spend connecting to the  “fashionable” news feeds online.  We worry about our personal information being misused in the digital world. This material floats like the wind in cyber space, and we have no idea where it is going.  This anxiety is real, but are we equally as apprehensive about the identities of our souls?  We have a responsibility to protect both! 

Throughout every generation in history, regardless of how simple or complex the means of communication, we must pursue real truth. Be attentive to the source of your information, and be prepared to defend and protect.

I recognized this need for awareness as I read about Junipero Serra, who was canonized on Sept. 23 by Pope Francis during his visit to the apostolic visit to the United States.  The story about this great Franciscan missionary is unfortunately subject to controversy in some publications.  The indefatigable Serra established nine missions along the coast of California before gold was discovered. The Franciscan Fathers established an additional 12 missions in Alta California. 

Serra preferred the active apostolate and fought for the freedom of the Church over government infringement. He provided the means for a productive community where he felt called to share his passion for Jesus.  When defending the faith we could all be seen as over zealous, but the choice is ours. Do we live as Nicodemus, afraid to acknowledge Christ, or like Serra, open to criticism for being one who is born of the Spirit? When you hear the sound of the wind; know where it is coming from before you follow!  Amen!