October 17, 2020

St. Ignatius of Antioch

Lk 12: 8-12

“And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God; but whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how you are to defend yourselves or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what you ought to say.”

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

Letting the Holy Spirit guide our words

Working as a hospice chaplain, there are times I am walking into a room "cold." I might not have many details to go off of and yet I will be asked to speak with knowledge and confidence about the role of God in a patient’s dying experience. And it is noticeable whether or not I pause beforehand and ask God to be present in my words. It has made the difference between excusing myself because things didn't go as I had hoped or waiting for the Holy Spirit to move and having someone pass away mid-prayer. The Holy Spirit wants to do miraculous things with us everyday. And every moment we have a chance to invite God into our lives.

Take 20 seconds and identify a particular encounter today that you might be put on the spot. Imagine yourself pausing beforehand and asking for the Holy Spirit to guide your words. 

—Adam Mescher is a graduate of Marquette University High School and Marquette University and currently works as a hospice chaplain.

Prayer

Dear Lord,

Forgive me for believing that I can do your will without giving you room to move. You want to partner with me and use your divine creative energy to do incredible things. Help me to pause, breathe, and let you be the grounding voice that comes from within me. God, bless us this day as we collectively allow you to speak from our mouths today. 

Amen

—Adam Mescher