THE GIFT OF UNDERSTANDING. (Homily for May 14, 2016. Saturday of the 7th Week of Easter.)

Bible Study:  Acts 1, 15 to 17, 20-26 and John 15, 9 to 17.


On this final day of our novena to the Holy Spirit, our readings have once again highlighted one gift of the Holy Spirit which is the Gift of Understanding. Understanding, as a Gift of the Holy Spirit helps us to grasp the meaning of the truths of our Holy Religion. By faith we know them, but by understanding we learn to appreciate and relish them.

Furthermore, understanding enables us to penetrate the inner meaning of revealed truths and through them to be quickened to newness of life. Our faith ceases to be sterile and inactive, but inspires a mode of life that bears eloquent testimony to the faith that is in us…

In the selection of Mathias as a replacement of Judas Iscariot, we see an application of the gift of understanding by Peter. Peter was able to see a connection between was David said in the book of Psalms and what happened to Judas. Even though David was not even born by the time of the New Testament, Peter knew that the book of Psalms he wrote were divinely inspired by God making them valid and applicable even centuries later.

This is what the gift of understanding does for us. It enables us to see practical application of what we read in the Scriptures daily. For instance, coming to the Gospel passage, we hear Jesus talk to us about Love. Today, many use the word “love” without understanding.

For them, God commanded us to love another and so whatever we do in the name of love cannot possibly be sinful meaning that if we engage in immoral relations outside of marriage, we are not committing a sin based on the fact that the act was inspired by love of one another. This is one way the devil uses the bible to get Christians to go to hell just as he quoted the bible out of context in the temptations of Jesus.

When we read the Bible without understanding, the bible is no longer a guide for correct living, but it becomes a tool we use in justifying our greed, lust and immorality. Don’t just read God’s word, pray for the gift of understanding as you read that the Holy Spirit may enable you know what exactly God demands of you.

When Jesus says we should love one another, his definition of love was his act of offering his own life for us thereby making us his friends. In this context, love does not admit of sin. More still, Jesus also added that to remain in his love, we must keep his commandments just as he has kept the Father’s commandments and remain in his love. We cannot contradict any of the commandments in the name of love.

According to tradition, St. Mathias preached Christianity in Judea (modern Israel) and Ethiopia where he was crucified, but others hold that he was beheaded at Jerusalem. St. Mathias is patron of tailors, carpenters and reformed alcoholics, and is invoked against small pox.

Let us Pray:
Lord Jesus, fill me with the Holy Spirit that I may not understand the truths my faith reveals to me in your word. May I never be carried away or deceived in the name of reading or applying the Scriptures. Amen.


Good morning. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you.

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