Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

“The Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

In the Catechism we read that the gifts of The Holy Spirit are: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.

Working backwords, Proverbs (9:10) tells us, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. ”In Catholic theology, the "fear of the Lord" is understood not as a  fear of punishment but rather a reverent awe and respect for God's majesty, holiness, and love;

expressed in obedience to God’s will, and service: “what you do to the least of mine, you do unto me.” (Mt 25,40)

The word ‘piety’ encapsulates devotion, fidelity, and loyalty, as expressed through prayer and the Sacraments – including Sunday Mass.

The Holy Spirit encourages us to learn and acquire knowledge. Knowledge is knowing, while wisdom is knowing how and when to use that knowledge.

Fortitude, the strength and courage to endure adversity, temptation, and spiritual challenges. In a word, guts, to enables us to live our Christian values, no matter what goes on around us.

Counsel perfects the cardinal virtue of prudence, guiding us to make right judgments and take appropriate actions in alignment with God's will. 

Understanding is characterized by an insightful perception of ideas and feelings, fostering empathy and respect with our communities.

And, finally, wisdom which is more than just knowledge,  involves recognizing our limitations, trusting in God, and understanding the deeper implications of our thoughts, words, and actions.

As all this is good to know but hard to remember, my wisdom has encouraged me - to help you ponder The Holy Spirit and even discuss the contents of this homily with your family and other friends - to leave copies  of this homily on the table as you leave the Chapel.