swing set?
"I tell you truly: you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices; you will grieve for a time, but your grief will be turned into joy." —John 16:20
Imagine a little boy sitting in a swing. This child's slightly older brother begins to push his brother in the swing. At first, the younger brother is delighted. Then his brother pushes the swing harder. The younger brother begins to become afraid. He cries to his brother to stop. The older brother pushes even harder. The younger child begins to scream and cry.
This scene is analogous to trusting in the Spirit. When the wind of the Spirit blows our swing, it can be delightful. However, the Holy Spirit will push harder. Then we will become afraid. If we cry to the Spirit to stop, He, unlike the older brother, will stop. Because of our fears, we can refuse to let the wind of the Spirit lift us up to the heights.
The Holy Spirit swung Paul so hard that he was sent to be a missionary to the Gentiles (see Acts 18:6). This was way beyond Paul's comfort zone. The cross is the ultimate push of the Holy Spirit. We are naturally afraid to be lifted up to the cross.
Tomorrow begins the Pentecost novena, which is often all about growing to trust the Holy Spirit before He pushes your swing harder. Pray with all your heart the Pentecost novena.
Prayer: Jesus, lifted up on the cross, in the resurrection, and in Your ascension, may I let you draw me to Yourself (Jn 12:32).
Promise: "Many of the Corinthians, too, who heard Paul believed and were baptized." —Acts 18:8
Praise: It was a struggle to keep her sanity and her marriage when she learned of her brain tumor, but by the Holy Spirit's power Sharon did.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our tapes Praying For a New Pentecost on audio AV 92A-1, AV 92A-3, AV 93B-1 or our video series of two tapes that starts with V-92A.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Giles H. Pater, October 17, 2002
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 21, 2002