will you die in the spirit?
"God lavishes the Spirit on you and works wonders in your midst." —Galatians 3:5
When we were baptized, we began a new life in the Holy Spirit. After beginning in the Spirit (Gal 3:3), will we grow in the Spirit and end in the Spirit? Or will we begin in the Spirit but later quench the Spirit (1 Thes 5:19), and even end in the flesh? (Gal 3:3)
We will end in the Spirit if we:
- repent of our sins (see Acts 2:38),
- overcome the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil (see Mt 4:1ff),
- live our Baptisms by faith (see Acts 2:38),
- witness in the Spirit for the risen Christ (see Acts 1:8),
- become holy in every aspect of our conduct (1 Pt 1:15),
- love the Church (Eph 5:25) and submit to her authority (see Acts 15:2), and
- love God, our neighbors, and our enemies.
Obviously, it is humanly impossible to persevere in the Holy Spirit, as it is humanly impossible even to begin in the Spirit. Nevertheless, "nothing is impossible with God," the Holy Spirit (Lk 1:37). He will complete what He has begun in us (Phil 1:6). All we need do is to cooperate with His grace. Live and die in the Holy Spirit. Come, Holy Spirit! Stay, Holy Spirit!
Prayer: Father, may I crucify my "flesh with its passions and desires" (Gal 5:24) so that I don't stifle the Holy Spirit.
Promise: "If you, with all your sins, know how to give your children good things, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him." —Lk 11:13
Praise: Donna imitated her heavenly Father by forgiving the men who abducted and raped her.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, April 24, 2000
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 27, 2000