9 October 2023 Saint John Henry Newman, Priest
For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual.
From 1 Corinthians 2:10-16, NRSV
In this reading, Paul is writing to the Corinthians about the difference between human wisdom and the spiritual wisdom that comes from God. Paul tells the Corinthians that they have received the Spirit that is from God so that they do not have to rely only on their human understanding. This Spirit of God enabled St. John Henry Newman, whose first Feast Day we celebrate today, to make sense of some of the more difficult aspects of life. Amongst his many famous words are these: “I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away…My sickness, or perplexity, or sorrow may be necessary causes of some great end, which is quite beyond us. He does nothing in vain.”
- Why does Paul want the people of Corinth to understand that they have spiritual as well as human understanding?
- When has spiritual understanding helped you to understand how God is at work in your life?
Today, you might like to research the life of Saint John Henry Newman or to read some of his many famous words.
Image By Emmeline Deane https://commons.wikimedia.org
