the holy spirit or a.d.d. ?
"Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water, moving toward Jesus. But when he perceived how strong the wind was, becoming frightened, he began to sink and cried out, 'Lord, save me!' " —Matthew 14:29-30
The Lord commands us to fix our eyes on Him (Heb 12:2) so that we can walk on the waters of every evil. Yet we human beings have an exceptional ability to mass-produce distractions. We are surrounded by distractions — many of our own making.
However, the Holy Spirit will give us the grace to rivet our attention on Jesus. For example, Stephen, a man filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5), was so focused on Jesus that even while about to be brutally martyred, he said, "Look!...I see an opening in the sky, and the Son of Man standing at God's right hand" (Acts 7:56). In the Holy Spirit, we can keep our attention focused on Jesus even in the midst of the most compelling distractions, such as death, persecution, pain, sickness, and rejection. In the Holy Spirit, we can concentrate on Jesus, walk on the waters of evil, and live lives of faith and love so as to conquer the world.
Receive the Holy Spirit. Behold the Lamb of God, Jesus (Jn 1:36). Walk on the waters.
Prayer: Father, give me a post-Pentecostal attention span. May I be docile to the Holy Spirit as Mary was.
Promise: "Should there be a prophet among you, in visions will I reveal Myself to him." —Nm 12:6
Praise: For a time, Joe joined his Protestant friends in closing his heart to Mary's place in the kingdom of God. Then he realized that he was snubbing the mother of Jesus, His Lord, Who he loved with his whole heart. Joe repented, asked Jesus and Mary for forgiveness, and now prays the rosary with his children.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our tape Holy Spirit our Hope on audio AV 81-3 or video V-81.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Richard L. Klug, February 27, 2003
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, March 3, 2003