Explore the Gift of Counsel and Wisdom in Easter Course

Welwyn Garden City Parishes Easter Course The Seven Gift of the Holy Spirit

Welwyn Garden City Welwyn Garden City Parishes Easter Parishes Easter Course Course Welcome

Opening Prayer Opening Prayer Come, Holy Spirit, live in us With God the Father and the Son, And grant us your abundant grace To sanctify and make us one. May mind and tongue made strong in love Your praise throughout the world proclaim, And may the love within our hearts Set fire to others with its flame. Most blessed Trinity of love, For whom the heart of man was made, To you be praise in timeless song, And everlasting homage paid.

Recap on the Gift of Understanding Recap on the Gift of Understanding Good evening, everyone, last Thursday, if you remember, we have looked at the gift of understanding explaining how this gift perfects in us the virtue of faith. We also said how the word understanding derives from the Latin word, intus, which means to read inside. It s connected with the word intuition, which means to be able to perceive something that apparently, at a first glimpse is not so evident or clear. Indeed, the gift of understanding empowers us to grasp or to better say to comprehend (which means to take with us),the profundity of God s plan of love for each one of us. To realize that God can write straight in crooked lines, through the events of our lives that we don t understand, we don t like and often we would like to reject and change. This evening, we will instead explore in depth what the gift of counsel is about.

The gift of Counsel The gift of Counsel Before starting to talk about the gift of counsel, let us ask ourselves the following questions: 1) What do I think is the gift of counsel? 2) Why do I need this gift in my life?

The gift of Counsel The gift of Counsel The gift of counsel could be defined as the capacity given by the Holy Spirit to rightly judge and interpret what is the will of God for us in thius very present time and moment. Basically, a person that is gifted with counsel, is a person who possess right judgment. Therefore, such person is enlightened and wisely guided by the Holy Spirit to the point of knowing in each situation what is right and what is wrong, and so be able to see in every moment what to do and then to act accordingly. Indeed, a person with right judgment avoids sin and lives out the values taught by Jesus. The nature of this gift consists in bringing to perfection the virtue of prudence in us. As we said the gifts of the Holy Spirit are like supernatural habits that enables us to acquire and develop a specific habit in us. Their actions is not transitory but permanent. However, for such action to be really efficacious in us they require from the recipients to keep being in a state of grace which means not to sin.

The gift of Counsel The gift of Counsel During the previous catechesis we spoke of how St Thomas Aquinas associates each gift of the Holy Spirit to a specific virtue. We said that the gift of wisdom is related with the theological virtue of charity and the gift of understanding is associated with the virtue of faith. Instead, the gift of counsel is linked to a different virtue, a cardinal one, the virtue of prudence. So, to be able to grasp what the gift of counsel is about we must previously understand what the virtue of prudence is about. Let us look at the life of St. Catherine of Siena to be helped to see how virtues and gifts differ from each other and how they complement each other. Catherine, although was very young and without any great training, was able to admonished the popes Gregory XI and Urban VI, exhorting them to reform the clergy and don t shrink from their responsibilities. She was able to do so not because of her prudence but because she possessed the gift of counsel. Prudence is formed in us through the constant exercise of personal meditation and self-reflection and through the seeking of advice from wise people. It enbles us to be guided and enlightened by faith in reading the events of his life so that to understand and discover what is the will of God.

The gift of Counsel The gift of Counsel How does the gift of counsel differ from the virtue of prudence? While prudence requires reflect, we think, before we act. The Gift of Counsel does not excuse us from being prudent. the Gift of Counsel is more than just prudence. While, when I m prudent, I reflect, I think beforehand, with the Gift of Counsel, instantly, I know what I should do. Secondly, with the Virtue of Prudence, I analyse. In other words, I look into the situation. The more important the action, the more analysis or reflection I am required to make before I act. In the case of the Gift of Counsel, Our Lord says in the gospel that when they are questioning us, putting us on trial, testing and persecuting us; Take no thought on what you are to say, it shall be given to you what you are to say (Mk 13:11). In other words, there are very difficult situation in our lives where we must take a decision. But I m not ready. Well, trust the Holy Spirit! You must be willing to do God's will. That is why the Gift of Counsel is priceless! However, there is one important condition, the disposition of my soul. I must always want to do God's will.

The gift of Counsel The gift of Counsel Counsel then is the perfection of the cardinal virtue of prudence. Prudence can be practiced by anyone, but counsel is supernatural. While prudence is a human virtue that enlightened and sustained by faith, through reflection, prayer and meditation enables us to understand the will of God and so coming to a decision; counsel enlighten us and help us to take decisions even in those situations where we are asked to act immediately without having enough time to reflect. The gift of counsel stands above this cardinal virtue of prudence because it doesn t rely on our human reasoning or by the guidance of a clever person. It s the Holy Spirit that enlightens our hearts and directs our thoughts, words and actions in accordance with the saving will of God. Indeed, leading us toward Jesus, and through him to God the Father, the Holy Spirit guides us in our daily interaction with others and enables us to make right decisions in the light of faith.

The gift of Counsel The gift of Counsel Through this gift of the Holy Spirit, we can judge how best to act almost by intuition. Because of the gift of counsel, Christians need not fear to stand up for the truths of the Faith, because the Holy Spirit will guide us in defending those truths. He will speak, right at the right moment, to the heart and in an instant enlightens a person about what to do. It is the gift that allows us as Christians to be assured that we will act correctly in times of trouble and trial. Through counsel, we can speak without fear in defence of the Christian Faith. Thus, counsel enables us to see and choose correctly what will help most to the glory of God and our own salvation. In the Acts of the Apostles, we see how the apostles, especially St. Peter and St Paul, had to deal with a huge number of difficult decisions that arose right from the beginning. Yet, they didn't consult each other for guidance. Nor they seek someone else for advice. They knew what to do immediately. Who could have advised the spirit of Yahweh, what counsellor could have instructed him? Who has he consulted to enlighten him, and to learn the path of justice and discover the most skilful ways? (Is 40:13-14)

The gift of Counsel The gift of Counsel Reflect now of what has been said so far: 1) Who is a prudent person for you? 2) What do you think the gift of counsel is about and how can it be productive in your life? 3) What is or what are according to you the fruits that the gift of counsel can produce in us?

The gift of Counsel The gift of Counsel Why is then necessary for us to possess the gift of counsel? Because there are so many moments in our life where we don t understand, when we are tempted, and we don t have clear which is the will of God for us. If you do, they will of God then you will be happy and prosper in your life. But what is the will of God for me, today? I think that we have passed through moments as such where we heard someone telling us to do the will of God but in the end, we didn t know what the will of God was in that difficult situation. How many times in front of situation of pain, distress or difficult choice we were called to make, we asked what is the will of God for me, today? Maybe we know and understand that they will of God for us is to love, to serve, to be honest and generous with others. But how do you translate these general principles into your daily life? How can you be sure that you are living in accordance with the will of God today?

The gift of Counsel The gift of Counsel By the gift of counsel, we grow in the virtue of prudence, learning to overcome our self-centeredness and to see all things with the eyes of Christ. Through it the Holy Spirit opens our eyes so that we may clearly see which is the will of God for us, especially in this very delicate and important situations that re like a dilemma where we are totally unsure, and we don t know what to do and when there is not much time to think what to do. It is the gift that make us receptive to God s guidance in our choices, especially with regard to our moral actions. Since we often assume certain actions because we want to achieve determinate goals.

The gift of Counsel The gift of Counsel Reflect on the following questions: 1.How do I make my moral decision? 2.When I make them do I follow my own preferences and instincts? 3.How do I know what is good and what is bad in a certain situation? 4.What kind of person do I want to become? 5.How do I know if what I want to do is bringing me close of far away from God?

The gift of Counsel The gift of Counsel The Bible presents us some figures who were endowed with the gift of counsel to help to understand what counsel is and how essential it is for us. For instance, take the case of King Solomon who was gifted with sound judgment. So, there is a situation in which King Solomon of Israel ruled between two women both claiming to be the mother of a child. (1 King 3:16-28) There were two mothers living in the same house had each one an infant son. However, one of the babies had been smothered, and each claimed the remaining boy as her own.

The gift of Counsel The gift of Counsel What did King Solomon propose to do when two women were claiming to be a child's real mother? Calling for a sword, Solomon declared his judgment: the baby would be cut in two, each woman to receive half. Then, the real mother, unable to bear her son being killed, immediately offered it to the other woman, to save the child's life, whereas the other agreed to the proposal. So, in this way Solomon was able to reveal what were their true feelings and relationship to the child. He knew immediately that the true mother was the one who showed love and concern for the child's well-being. With this strategy, he was able to discern the non-mother as the woman who entirely approved of this proposal, while the actual mother begged that the sword might be sheathed, and the child committed to the care of her rival.

The gift of Counsel The gift of Counsel Another episode is the story of Susanna told in the book of Daniel: Now Susanna was a woman of great refinement, and beautiful in appearance. As she was veiled, the wicked men ordered her to be unveiled, that they might feed upon her beauty. But her family and friends and all who saw her wept. Then the two elders stood up in the midst of the people, and laid their hands upon her head. And she, weeping, looked up toward heaven, for her heart trusted in the Lord. The elders said, As we were walking in the garden alone, this woman came in with two maids, shut the garden doors, and dismissed the maids. Then a young man, who had been hidden, came to her and lay with her. We were in a corner of the garden, and when we saw this wickedness, we ran to them. We saw them embracing, but we could not hold the man, for he was too strong for us, and he opened the doors and dashed out. So, we seized this woman and asked her who the young man was, but she would not tell us. These things we testify. The assembly believed them, because they were elders of the people and judges; and they condemned her to death.

The gift of Counsel The gift of Counsel Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said, O eternal God, who dost discern what is secret, who art aware of all things before they come to be, you knew that these men have borne false witness against me. And now I am to die! Yet I have done none of the things that they have wickedly invented against me! The Lord heard her cry. And as she was being led away to be put to death, God aroused the holy spirit of a young lad named Daniel; and he cried with a loud voice, I am innocent of the blood of this woman. (Daniel 13:31-46) In fact, Daniel showed how the witnesses of that the two wicked judges gave were in contradiction among themselves. Therefore, the gift of counsel comes in our aid even when we have to discern to unmask the traps of the Devil which attacks us constantly, to understand in these very difficult situations what we are called to do. The gift of counsel leads us to conform more and more to Jesus, as a model of our actions and our relationship with God, and with our brothers.

The gift of Counsel The gift of Counsel This is very evident also in the life of Christ. For instance, take in consideration when the people approached him asking whether or not is it licit to pay the tribute to Caesar. How did Christ respond?If he told them that it is rightful to do then the pharisees and scribes would have thought that Christ was standing on the side of the Romans, the enemy of the Jews who were making their life hard with taxes and severe laws instead if he told them that it was unjust to do so they would have brought it to the Romans saying that he is not keeping the law, and these would have sentenced him to death. So, he replied: Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar s; and to God, the things that are God s. (Matthew 22:15-22) Then, in front of our daily dilemma we are invited to ask the Holy Spirit to grant us this gift of counsel to help up and show to us the way of God. This is a gift that is not apt to help only us but also to help those that are around us, those that we know that needs advice, instruction, and direction. This Gift of Counsel, is not only for counselling ourselves, but it is also the Gift of Counsel for others. However, we are only as effective, in using this gift for others, as we are faithful in following this gift in our own lives.

The gift of Counsel The gift of Counsel It s a gift that those who hold responsibility over other people (such as parents, priests, teachers, formators, catechists) should always ask. For instance, parents should always ask for the gift of counsel in order to know what the will of God for their children is and to know how to guide and direct them towards it. Either the Holy Spirit is enlightening us and helping us to make a right discernment, or everything becomes extremely difficult. Because it s not a matter of psychology. Besides that, the gift of counsel has an extraordinary effect, because it allows us to not be deceived. Because we are often capable to deceive ourselves through our subtle reasoning. In fact, how often we justify our actions and our conduct to defend our reasons or to achieve our projects? And consequently, we begin to enter in conflict with everyone else who is next to us because we want to prevail over the others, we think we know more than the others and often we even think that we know better than God.

The gift of Counsel The gift of Counsel That s why we are often deaf to the word of God, we often listen what we like to listen, and we are also blind, because we often see what we like to see in our life. So, you understand how much we are all in need of guidance and instruction. It helps us not to deceive ourselves and to defend ourselves constantly justifying our views and projects that we have for our life as the best one, the one we must follow. Without this Gift, there is no assurance of doing what God wants. Without the Gift of Counsel, there would be nothing but CONFUSION. We see also in Scriptures how God invites his people not to associate with everything that the foreign nations have: material goods, women. And you know how often the people disobeyed to God s command. Or king Saul who is called by God to destroy everything that his enemies hold in possession and instead he decide to keep few cows to present a sacrifice to God. Even if his intention is very laudable, God sent the prophet Samuel to him to tell him that is better to obey to God and follow his way than sacrificing him animals. Since, you didn t rely in the word of the Lord, the Lord will take the kingdom out of you.

The gift of Counsel The gift of Counsel This is what the gift of counsel helps us to do, not to impose our plans and projects to God. Many times, we say the Lord is calling me to do this and that, but instead what is really the will of God for you? And maybe you didn t ask him to show you his will for you because you don t care of what he will tell you, you think you know better. Then, the gift of counsel always invites us to let ourselves be guided by God by following Him. We should never cease to ask ourselves what is the will of God for me today? Although the gifts of the Holy Spirits are something that we don t gain with our own efforts but are freely bestowed on us by God we can still prepare and dispose our Spirit to receive them. So, what can we do to be more docile to this gift of Counsel? An essential condition is prayer. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20) The Lord is knocking at the door of our heart, but if we don t open the door, he can t enter in. Many time what is lacking is our obtaining God s grace and then using the grace that Christ won for us by his death on Calvary. Two free wills redeem the world. First, the free will of Christ, who became man to have a free will, and then the submission of our free will to His will.

The gift of Counsel The gift of Counsel Indeed, thanks to the intimacy with God and to the hearing of his Word, a profound harmony with God matures in us and leads us to ask ourselves constantly: What is it that the Lord desires from me to do? What is that he is calling me to do? What is his will? What is it that pleases him? Don t rely exclusively on your own understanding. Like the other spiritual gifts, counsel also constitutes a treasure for the whole Christian community. Because not only does God speak to us in the intimacy of the heart, but also by the voice and testimony of the faith of our brothers and sisters, who help us to see more clearly and to recognize the will of God. Another essential disposition of the soul to receive the gift of counsel is SILENCE. Silence is fundamental to learn to listen to the voice of God. Because we are all surrounded by many noises both outside and inside of us which prevent us to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit who speaks to us. Then, let us ask the Holy Spirit who may grant us to do the will of God and to love him, rending us docile and receptive to the counsel of God.

The gift of Counsel The gift of Counsel It is also important to develop the sense of my own weakness and ignorance. You've got to grow in learning, realizing how stupid and weak we are! It takes time. How do we grow in this Gift of Counsel? We keep asking our Lord. "Show me Lord, your ways and teach me your paths". Keep asking our Lord. "Lord, tell me what to do next. What to think next". Because the most important part of our lives are our thoughts. Every thought, unless we control it, becomes a desire. Every desire, unless we control it, becomes an action. Every action, unless we control it, becomes a habit. Jesus preached nothing but the truth. And He practiced nothing but charity. This is the mark of being an authentic follower of Christ. We must use our free will in obtaining the graces that Christ won. How? In three ways; by prayer, by the sacraments and by doing good works. These are the three basic ways in which we obtain grace from God. We must put those graces to use. In other words, we must cooperate with the graces. And that's what St. Paul means when he says that we are to make up what is lacking. What's lacking? Our cooperation!

The gift of Counsel The gift of Counsel Finally, to cultivate this gift, a person should pray for the help of the Holy Spirit (in particular for the gifts of knowledge and understanding). Also, continued study of sacred Scripture and the teachings of the church, especially in the moral issues of the day, provide fuel for this gift. Indeed, the deepest decisions of our lives are not external decisions. "What kind of work do I do? Or how should I do it?" The deepest decisions are deep down inside of our souls. And these are decisions which no human being can tell you what to do. There must be an intimacy with God; a closeness of the Holy Spirit. And living as much as we can in His presence, so that the decisions we make, interiorly, is not advice, the Holy Spirit does not give just advice. The Holy Spirit gives directives. And that is what we call the Gift of Counsel. In the last analysis, our first, principle and primary Spiritual Director, is the Holy Spirit.

Final Prayer Final Prayer Most Holy Spirit, You are the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity. You are the Spirit of truth, love and holiness, proceeding from the Father and the Son, and equal to Them in all things. I adore You and love You with all my heart. Teach me to seek and to know God, by whom and for whom I was created. Fill my heart with holy reverence and love for my Creator. Give me compunction and patience, and do not let me fall into sin. Increase faith, hope and charity in me and bring forth all the virtues proper to my state of life. Help me to grow in the four cardinal virtues, Your seven gifts and Your twelve fruits. Make me a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, a committed child of the Church and a help to my neighbour. Give me the grace to keep the commandments and to receive the sacraments worthily.

Final Prayer Final Prayer Raise me to holiness in the state of life to which You have called me and lead me through a happy death to everlasting life. Grant me also, Most Holy Spirit, Giver of all good gifts, the special favour for which I now ask, if it be for Your honour and glory and for my well-being. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.