Gospel (Lk 12:8-12)

I tell you therefore: Whoever declares himself for me before men, the Son of man will also declare himself for him before the angels of God, but if anyone denies me before men, he will be denied before the angels of God.

Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

When you are taken to the synagogues, before the magistrates and the authorities, do not worry about how or with what reasons you will defend yourself or what you are going to say, because the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you have to say.

Commentary

Today’s Gospel passage has some words of Jesus that may raise questions in those who read them: “whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.”

Our Lord’s saying here is very profound and difficult to understand. In any case, it emphasizes the central role of the Holy Spirit. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: “our birth into the divine life is given to us in the Holy Spirit.”^[1]

To welcome the Holy Spirit is to welcome life. To reject the Holy Spirit is to reject life. It is not that God refuses to forgive, but that by rejecting the Holy Spirit one rejects salvation.

And by welcoming the Holy Spirit, one welcomes salvation. As Saint John XXIII once said: “Each of the saints is a masterpiece of the grace of the Holy Spirit!”^[2]

Let us make Saint Josemaría’s advice our own: “Get to know the Holy Spirit, the Great Unknown, who is the one who will sanctify you.”^[3]

He is the one who teaches us everything: “the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you have to say.”

The Paraclete guides us throughout our life and helps us to do the greatest good we can. For as Saint Paul said: “the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Rom 5:5). The most common way He acts is through the inspirations we hear in the intimacy of our heart. Often these will be small things: a small mortification, a smile, finishing a job well, etc. This is how the Holy Spirit guides us towards the fullness of Christian life.

^[1] Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 694.

^[2] John XXIII, Speech, 5 June 1960.

^[3] Saint Josemaría, The Way, no. 57.