When he was at table with them, he took the bread. He blessed the bread, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him!(Luke 24:13-35)

Sunday, January 3, 2010

How do you know?

There is a point in everyone’s life when (I think—I hope) they realize that no matter how successful or happy they think they are, there is still something (Someone?) missing. It explains why people see the Virgin Mary in toast, or the profile of Christ in a car’s window after washing. I know that God humbled Himself so lowly that He chose a stable-full of animals to be born of a virgin, but toast and glass are not humble, that’s just plain silly.

Then there are seemingly credible apparitions that have either been recognized by the Church for their Truth and message, and others that haven’t.

In John’s Letter we hear something very important: how to know the spirit of truth and differentiate it from the spirit of deceit.

So that we don't have to struggle, fret or worry whether we've got it right, the answer is given, simply.

The way we know a spirit of truth is by what it says. Does it acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary? Jesus, who was crucified, died, buried and raised up on the third day? Who ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father? If a spirit confesses this, it is The Spirit of Truth, The Holy Spirit. It is the same Spirit Who innervates the Catholic Church, gives Her life, preserves Her, protects Her, guides Her.

Do you want to hear a Spirit of Truth, know a Spirit of Truth? If you do, listen to the Spirit speaking through the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church; the Spirit that speaks thorough the Sacred Word, through Sacred Tradition, through the Magesterium. That's where you will hear the Spirit of Truth, where you will come to know the Spirit of Truth, and nowhere else!

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