By Clara Meier
“Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.” ~ Luke 21:14-16
Perhaps you have heard of the Brown Palace in Denver. It is a beautiful old hotel in downtown Denver, built in the late 1880s, and maintained to this day in the grand style of that era. One of the highly recommended activities, if you live in or visit Denver, is high tea at the Brown Palace. A bucket list activity, something to remember! Many years ago, I went to high tea at the Brown Palace with a dear friend. Tea is served in the hotel’s atrium, in grand style. The upper floors overlook the atrium, and it is so beautiful to look up to the sky or down to the guests from those floors. The atrium floor is filled with beautifully dressed guests, enjoying delicate pastries and sandwiches. It is a very formal event. We were having the time of our lives!
So, imagine our surprise when a young woman leaned over the rail of the third floor. She was clearly a bride, and one would guess that her wedding reception was going on in a private ballroom, just off that railing. And she called out, “Hey, everyone!” When we looked up, she yelled, “I just got married!” And she whooped!
We were caught off guard a bit, but when we realized what was going on, we all laughed, clapped, and cheered. Her groom came out, they both joyously whooped again, and then he pulled her back into their own party.
We can easily guess that this young woman was moved by the spirit and the emotion of the very special day. (And maybe a glass of champagne.) And there was no adversary involved in her decision to speak out like this! Only joy and excitement!
I tell this story because one can understand how easy it is to hear the spirit in this situation, and act on it. If you were in a similar situation, I don’t even think you would give it a second thought to act on what the spirit is calling for you to say and do.
But a wedding day is rare in each of our lifetimes. It represents happiness and a bright future, a once-in-a-lifetime event.
Today’s gospel refers to being faced with an unpleasant situation. We must pass on bad news or face someone involved in something that we know is a sinful situation. Even though they are good people, we know that they are doing something sinful. “Admonish the sinner” is what we are told to do. But it is always hard to find the right words to do that. The other instruction we are given is to “Love the sinner”. Those two sentences seem to oppose each other.
This verse is a great reminder of these two very different instructions. We know in our hearts what is true, but it is difficult to have that discussion. We can’t always predict when we will be called to have “the conversation”, or even with whom. The topics of “the conversation” could be so many that I wouldn’t even begin to list them.
But if we hold to what Jesus taught while on earth and dedicate our lives to listening to him through the Holy Spirit, we will be ready. Because of the unpredictability of the adversary, we can’t have a canned or rehearsed speech ready. But we can train ourselves to listen for the guidance the Holy Spirit gives us and follow through on it. We are instruments in His hands, waiting to be played for His great glory.
Certainly, our bride at the beginning of this reflection didn’t have a plan to announce her new marriage to an atrium full of strangers. Yet she responded to her call, and all these years later, I have a beautiful memory of her doing it!
By listening to the Holy Spirit, you too could have a lasting effect on someone. And we know that God’s purpose is for the effect to be for the better.
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, please guide me in all situations, large and small, to listen for your direction, to share your good news with all that I encounter. As I approach each new day, help me find ways to hear what your goal is for me. Please open the hearts and minds of those I encounter, and give me the knowledge, strength, and courage to live your word in all I do.
Call to Action:
Advent starts on Sunday. Use this blessed season to take some time and reflect on the upcoming birth of the baby Jesus. Think of the effect his arrival has on the world. What small way can you act on what He wants for the world, even if the world is the small community you live in?
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