This week we focus on the freedom of the Holy Spirit to go where ever and to whomever it will and how the freedom of the Spirit of God cannot be restrained or limited, in any way.  The Holy Spirit should not be guarded as belonging only to certain people, for it is for all to receive.
 
In the first reading from the book of Numbers, the Spirit of God came upon the leaders of Israel in the tent of leaders and they began to prophesy.  Eldad and Medad who were on the list of leaders were not present when this happened but they, too, were overcome by the Spirit and they began to prophesy (envision, predict, have a revealing understanding or experience)  in the camp.  When a young man from camp came running to Moses to tell him they were prophesying in the camp and he must make them stop doing this, Moses had a most awesome response:
 
“Do you think that I am jealous?  No, I want them all to have God’s spirit!  I wish all of God’s people would be prophets!”
 
Likewise, in the Gospel according to Mark, the apostle John said to Jesus,
 
“Teacher, we saw a man curing people of evil spirits by using your name.  We told him to stop doing that because he does not belong to our group.”
 
Jesus replied,
 
“Don’t stop anyone from doing good.  Anyone who does miracles using my name will never say anything bad about me.  And anyone who is not against us is part of us.  Anyone who gives you a drink of water because you belong to Christ will surely receive a reward.”
 
The Spirit of God is not something to be jealously guarded as belonging to those who are deemed “special” to receive it.  No.  The Spirit of God is free, it is not bound by man or earthly power, it is sent forth from God and the Spirit will move into anyone it wants, anytime it wants.  Any attempt to restrict the Spirit from living in others is an attempt to limit the power of God and that is not possible nor is it just and right.    
 
There are many accounts of saints who had a defining moment in their lives when the Spirit took up residence within them and changed them significantly.  In some cases, after coming to be with someone, the Spirit pulls away, and there are accounts of saints who suffered from long, dark times in their souls, feeling alone and empty and even faithless.  God uses His Spirit to transform us from the human we are to the saints we are meant to be.  Sometimes it is necessary in the transformation to remove the Spirit, or at least make it seem as though you have been abandoned by the Spirit, if only to allow you to appreciate the goodness of God all the more in His absence. 
 
Acts of goodness, kindness, charity and love should always be fostered and encouraged in society.  No one who is a recipient of the Spirit should ever feel compelled to pass a judgment that someone is not worthy of receiving the Spirit and using that Spirit to do good too.  This week we should try hard to view the entirety of the world through the eyes of the Holy Spirit, listen with His ears and speak with His mouth.  Can you imagine the difference it will make in our outlook and perspective on life and toward others?
 
This week’s Psalm is Psalm 19:  The Precepts of the Lord Give Joy to the Heart.  Here are the links to the music sample and the lead sheet:

Music Link
Lead Sheet
 
Have a blessed week!  Come Holy Spirit, Come!