Vol. 15, No. 3, April, 2010

You Have Received a Spirit of Sonship
by Sr. Brigid Meierotto, S.N.C.

In this teaching, we will accept the word of God, the Scriptures into our hearts and minds, letting them be light to us. The Scriptures are the inspired word of God which has the power to accomplish what it says, for us. Yes, for us, right here. right now!

The Scripture we are reflecting upon is Deuteronomy 4:29-39; Psalm 33; Romans 8:14-17; Matthew 28:16-20. Read these passages slowly, prayerfully.

As you read the Scripture, in your heart ask the Holy Spirit to explain to you the message that the Lord has for you personally. Do not doubt that the Lord Jesus will do this for you, because that is why he came, so that you can get to know and to love Jesus. "These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you" (John 14:25f). Ask the Holy Spirit what you expect from him...something like this: "O Holy Spirit, Jesus said that you would teach me all things and I believe him. Teach me that I have received the Spirit of Sonship! Teach me that I can observe all that the Lord has commanded me! Teach me to put all my hope and trust in Jesus! Teach me to love Jesus with my whole heart, filled with gratitude, giving him praise and adoration with every breath! Thank you, O Holy Spirit."

The Lord calls his people, the Israelites, and us, to task for turning away from him and serving other gods. But in his mercy he gives us hope, promising us:

"But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in tribulation, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, you will return to the Lord your God and obey his voice, for the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not fail you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers which he swore to them."

What faithful, steadfast love the Lord has for us! It is he who has chosen us: "And because he loved your fathers and chose their descendants after them...know therefore this day, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath, there is no other. Therefore you shall keep his statutes and his commandments, which I command you this day that it may go well with you,..." (verses 37-40).

In his letter to the Romans, Paul tells us that all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God and that we have not received the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but we have received the spirit of sonship.

What mercy the Lord shows us in the death, the resurrection of Jesus, pouring out his life, his Spirit upon us, giving us the Spirit of sonship by which we can cry,

"Abba! Father!" it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him."

Again I say, what love the Father has for us! What love the Son, Jesus, has for us! What love the Spirit of Jesus, the Spirit of the Father, has for us -- hearing us when we cry out to him, "Abba, Father!"

Jesus has the victory over death, over sin, over all evil, over everything that takes away life. We can put our hope, our trust in Jesus because he has the power to save us, to heal us, to give us life today. With praise and thanksgiving, we lift our minds and hearts to the Lord with Psalm 33, 18-22:

"Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death, and keep them alive in famine

"Our soul waits for the Lord, he is our help and shield. Yea, our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let thy steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in thee."

Closing prayer: Thank you, Spirit of love, for teaching me that I have received the Spirit of Sonship, and can cry out, Abba, Father! Thank you for teaching me that I can observe all that the Lord has commanded me! Thank you for teaching me to put all my hope and trust in Jesus! Continue to teach me to love Jesus with my whole heart, filled with gratitude, and giving him praise and adoration with every breath! Thank you, O Holy Spirit." Now the prayer to Mary: "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus! Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen!"