Counsel

5 Minute Meditations. Between now and Pentecost (May 23rd), we’re going to talk about the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and the Fruits of the Spirit. The blog entries will be much shorter, but you can spend as much time in meditation, contemplation and prayer as you like.

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him:  a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord. And his delight shall be the fear of the Lord. (Isaiah 11:1-3) These seven gifts (piety is described, not labeled, in the verses that follow) are part of the blessings given the Messiah, Jesus, and therefore, given to Christians. We receive these gifts at baptism. They are strengthened in us in the sacrament of Confirmation when we affirm our identities as soldiers of Christ, that is, Christians who will battle sin in ourselves and in the world to bring about the Kingdom of Heaven.

Ponder: Counsel is “right judgment”. It’s knowing what to do in the moment. Counsel involves prudence, that is, acting in a way that shows care for the future. Counsel helps us know what to say to defend our faith, for the Holy Spirit speaks through us. Counsel is a “supernatural intuition”. It decreases fear of not knowing what to say or do in otherwise confusing circumstances. The Gift of Counsel comes to those who want to do God’s will.

Reflect: What is the right thing for you to do in a situation that is troubling you? (Or think about the word or phrase that stood out to you.) Talk it over with God. Listen.

Pray (and add your own words): I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. (Psalm 32:8)

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