Scaleless

“…Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized…”  This passage is from Acts (9:1-22).   Since we are already baptized, can we honestly say we have sight, and we are filled with the Holy Spirit.   Scales no longer cover our eyes?

Being filled with the Holy Spirit means we go onto the whole world to proclaim the Gospel to every living creature – that we will drive out demons, speak new languages, pick up serpents, and drink any deadly thing – so says our Gospel reading from Mark (16:15-18).

All of this means we will practice and preach forgiveness; we will resist evil, in all its many forms such as hypocrisy, oath-breaking, lying, cheating, and betrayal.   We will reach out to refugees from other countries – especially families seeking safety.  We will not be afraid to confront the cruel and racist – the snakes with poisonous bites.   We will listen to (drink) but confront hatemongers.

When we do all these things, we are filled with the Holy Spirt that does not lay dormant but urges us

on to proclaim the Gospel message.  That is our charge as baptized Catholics.

Scales belong on fish, not on our eyes.

Deacon David Pierce