Acknowledging Jesus Is Recognizing the Holy Spirit!

Saturday, October 21, 2023

Rom 4:13,16-18; Lk 12:8-12

In today’s gospel, Jesus draws our attention to two points: acknowledging him and blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. 

Testifying in the name of Jesus comes with a cost. It may even cost our lives. Whereas denying Jesus will save our lives. Should we confess the name of Jesus and embrace the cross, or betray him and walk free to live our lives? 

Acknowledging Jesus is antagonizing the world; denying him is befriending the world. But what is at stake? Our fearless testimony to the name of Jesus may shorten our earthly days while winning us the reward of eternal life. Instead, for fear of facing persecution, if we betray Jesus, it might add days at the cost of our very lives. What should we choose, and which one is better? 

For instance, Peter denied Jesus three times. But the gospel describes that he ‘wept bitterly’ (Lk 22:62) thereafter. The expression indicates an extreme remorse that cost Peter his peace of mind. There goes a saying: ‘Know Jesus, know peace. No Jesus, no peace.’

Secondly, Jesus comments on the sin against the Holy Spirit. 

We know that Jesus was a sign opposed by many. They opposed Jesus because they could not recognize the power of the Holy Spirit at work in him. Their inability to recognize the Spirit in Jesus is problematic. But it was more problematic when haters of Jesus went too far ahead so that they now ascribed the work of the Spirit in Jesus’ healing episodes to that of devils and demons. That’s how they blasphemed against the Spirit. Their sin is thus twofold. 

However, acknowledging Jesus and recognizing the Spirit in him are interconnected because Jesus ‘was led by the Spirit’ (Mt 4:1). 

Can we recognize the Holy Spirit in Jesus? Can we recognize the work of the Spirit in our own mission?

Acknowledging Jesus is partaking of the companionship of the Spirit, though human companions may desert us! 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar