Smug Superiority and Stillness Within

"But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin.” For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.” // Mark 3:29-30

One spring afternoon, I sat in prayer in my fav little chapel before the Blessed Sacrament in Adoration. I had long given up testing is it God or is it me with whatever thoughts came and went in prayer. I simply sat with a rosary in hand, letting my thoughts come and go, holding loosely to this desire to be told what to do, to be animated by the Holy Spirit. The practice of going deeper into contemplative prayer meant simply worshipping, being present, not trying to do or anticipate.

The words "stillness" kept coming back to me, all throughout that forty-five minutes. Just "stillness," not an actual voice, but the idea that I was being asked to cultivate stillness within myself.

Jesus was accused of acting by means of an unclean spirit when He cast out demons in today's Gospel, and His response is a quick lash back that calling the Holy Spirit unclean or demonic was an everlasting sin. When I'm listening for the Holy Spirit and I'm staying close to God in regular Confession and Holy Communion, staying outta trouble and breaking free from my habitual vices, the movements in my heart are from the big H.S. How could they be otherwise?

But when I'm justifying those easy sins, those rash judgments and smug assurances of my superiority in . . . fill in the blank: mothering, homemaking, editing? When I say it's the Holy Spirit telling me I'm better than others, look out, Nell! That's dangerous territory.

The Holy Spirit draws us closer to Himself, never into sin. Let's feed our consciences the right way, try to stay in a state of grace, and be confident of His leadership. I need to, each and every day. What about you, sister?

Be confident of His leadership. // Nell O'LearyClick to tweet

listen to today’s devotion