Posted on 05/24/2015 4:47:08 AM PDT by 9thLife
Arriving in Ephesus, in what now is Turkey, Saint Paul encountered some twelve men who had news of the Resurrection, but had not followed through on its consequences. So he asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit, to which they replied, “No, we were never even told that there was such a thing as a Holy Spirit” (Acts 19:2). The fact that that they spoke of “a Holy Spirit” instead of “the Holy Spirit” let Saint Paul know that he had his work cut out for him.
Those Ephesians were ignorant, which is not necessarily an insult. Unlike stupidity, which has no cure short of a brain transplant, ignorance can be cured by an injection of information. I know practically nothing about the inner workings of a computer, but I know a lot more about the history of the Saxon kings than the computer engineer who is patient when I have a problem with the Internet. Just as he does not think I am stupid for not knowing how to design a website, I do not belittle him for never having heard of the kings Aethelwald and Aethelberht. Together, resolving each other’s ignorance, we might rebuild civilization. Saint Paul dug in his heels and wiped away the ignorance of those Ephesians by baptizing them with the power of the Holy Spirit.
Pentecost and Easter are the central feasts of the Church. Without Easter there would be no Christianity, and without Pentecost there would be no Christians. Wherever the number of Christians increases, it is because of the Holy Spirit, and wherever they decline, it is because the Holy Spirit is absent. Polls now indicate that there is a vast number of “former Catholics.” This surprises some who thought that bureaucratic programs, enhanced communications, or a new pope would change things. To some degree, there have been positive influences: the number of men ordained to the priesthood in the United States, having been formed during the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI, increased 25% in just one year. The indications now are of a downward slope. To rely on personalities is to “place your trust in princes,” which the Psalmist says is a bad policy. Trust the Holy Spirit. He gives the gifts needed to change the world: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety and Fear of the Lord.
Did I say that those who had never heard of the Holy Spirit were Ephesians? You can meet them anywhere: some are doctors, politicians, financial managers, retailers, soldiers, professors, and even highly placed clergymen. They may be ignorant, but they are not stupid. Willful ignorance covers ears at the mention of the Holy Spirit, and there is a moral accountability to be exacted for that. But there are many smart people who are not intentionally ignorant. An informed Christian is at fault if he does not instruct those who are ignorant by default.
“An informed Christian is at fault if he does not instruct those who are ignorant by default.” The hour is late. Not many ticks left on the timing clock before the departing (apostasia). Let’s shake off the Laodicean blankey of ‘lets all just get along’ and get to work sharing the Gospel of God’s Grace in Christ Jesus.
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