The most authentic manifestation of humility lies in acknowledging and implementing sound advice. This ability to heed wise counsel is the very glue that binds individuals, families, societies, nations, and even commonwealths together.
Accepting spiritual guidance means recognizing the beautiful voice of God through his marvelous creation and joining that harmonious song in peace and consonance.
But, as with all powers, we must cultivate and learn how to use this faculty with purpose and determination. To become competent, we must enroll in the school of the Holy Spirit and diligently complete all our assignments and homework. Only then will we gain knowledge and firmly grasp what we have learned.
This divine school is not confined to specific days or times. It is perpetually in session, demanding our unwavering presence. The Holy Spirit serves as the teacher through his divine graces, numerous suggestions, and persistent indications.
The very first exercise involves tuning our mind’s hearing and vision to capture these inspirations. By capturing the precious and abundant invitations of grace and recording them in our nature, we can achieve noble and virtuous progress. This progress permeates our daily routine with immense comfort, precisely because comfort is the unmistakable sign of the Holy Spirit—the Comforter.
The prayers of the sacrament of Baptism beautifully and clearly describe the nature of this school. The Holy Spirit renews us with his light, and those anointed with the oil of the Holy Chrism are confirmed in the holiness of spiritual wisdom. God’s power covers us more profoundly than clothes. By acquiring the knowledge of the faith announced by the Apostles, we remain steadfast and resolute against the plots and schemes of evil. We come to know the will of God. We test and purify our thoughts and the movements of our will to recognize the voice of Jesus and follow the direction to which it points. We heed its advice.
It is impossible for God, the eternal and immortal truth, to inspire shallow, empty, and foolish thoughts. He guides us towards what truly matters and holds meaning.
God, being light, clear, and bright, is incapable of bringing forth dark thoughts in our souls. He always leads us to deeds radiating with faith, hope, and love.
God is meek, humble, and uncomplicated, making it impossible for him to push us towards haughty pride. In fact, those who follow God’s voice accept their ignorance, remain flexible, and the more they advance in human knowledge and culture, the more they freely obey the guiding light of the Holy Spirit.
