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We cannot be a "part-time" Christian
Rev. Fr. Joseph Mazur SVD

We cannot be "part-time" Christian, at certain moments, circumstances or choices. Faith must guide our lives, because the truth that the Holy Spirit gives us always and totally involves our daily lives.

In an era marked by relativism, that the truth lies in consensus (agreement in the judgment or opinion reached by a group as a whole), Pope Francis reminds Christians that Jesus is the Truth, and the Holy Spirit He who guides us on the path of knowledge of the truth, to the ways of God.

Pope Francis dedicated his reflection during the General Audience on the 15th of May to the action that the Holy Spirit accomplishes in guiding the Church and each one of us to the Truth. He said: "We live in an age rather sceptical of truth. Benedict XVI has spoken many times of relativism, that is, the tendency to believe that nothing is definitive, and think that the truth is given by consent (agreement) or by what we want. The question arises: does "the" truth really exist? What is "the" truth? Can we know it? Can we find it?

Here I am reminded of the question of the Roman procurator Pontius Pilate when Jesus reveals the profound meaning of his mission: "What is truth?" (Jn 18.37-38). Pilate does not understand that "the" Truth is in front of him, he cannot see in Jesus the face of the truth, which is the face of God yet, Jesus is just that: the Truth"."We cannot grab the truth as if it would be an object.

It is not a possession. It is an encounter with a Person. St. Paul teaches that "no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit" (1 Cor 12:3). It is the Holy Spirit, the gift of the Risen Christ that helps us to recognize the Truth. Jesus calls the Holy Spirit the "Paraclete", meaning "the one, who comes to our aid," who is by our side to support us in this journey of knowledge. At the Last Supper, Jesus assures his disciples that the Holy Spirit will teach them all things. (cf. Jn 14:26)."Then the action of the Holy Spirit in our lives and the life of the Church is to guide us to the truth! Holy Spirit imprints in the hearts of believers the words that Jesus said, and Jesus words and the words of the prophets become within us a principle of evaluation in our choices and of guidance in our daily life.

The Word of God becomes a principle of life"."The Holy Spirit, as Jesus promises guides us "into all truth" (Jn 16:13). He leads us not only to an encounter with Jesus, the fullness of Truth, but guides us "into" the Truth, but helps us to enter into communion with Jesus. This communion with Jesus gives us knowledge of the ways of God. We cannot achieve by our own strengths.

If God does not enlighten us, our Christianity becomes superficial". We should ask ourselves: Are we open to the Holy Spirit? Do we pray to him to enlighten us in the ways of God?

This is a prayer we need to pray every day: Holy Spirit may my heart be open to the Word of God. May my heart be open to good. May my heart be open to the beauty of God.""Do not be a 'part-time" Christians, at certain moments, in certain circumstances, be Christians at all times!".

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