Ask and You will Receive the Holy Spirit.

Homily for October 12, 2017.

“So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Luke 11:9-10.

When Jesus said we should ask, he did not really mean we should ask for anything. I say this because of what follows next.

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:13

When last did I ask for the Holy Spirit? Does it actually occur to me that when Jesus said we should ask, what he actually had in mind was the Holy Spirit? Do I value the Holy Spirit as something worth asking for persistently?

In our first reading, Malachi warns us about taking God’s mercy for granted. It is one thing to be truly sorry for one’s sin, it is a different thing altogether when I deliberately sin just because I can easily obtain God’s forgiveness. Malachi says:

“See, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings.” Malachi 4:1-2 

I have had a penitent come to confession to confess a sin he was about to commit. For me, this is the height of taking God for granted; asking to be absolved of a sin you are planning to go and commit, there was no sign of remorse or sorrow.

If we learn to value the Holy Spirit and ask for him instead of other material things, we would find ourselves truly living above sin and learn to be humble and contrite in our hearts.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, deepen my love for the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Thursday of the 27^th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study:  Malachi 3:13-4:1-2 and Luke 11:5-13).