« DO NOT TRUST EVERY SPIRIT…» (1 Jn 4 : 1)

“Great salvation […] announced originally through the Lord, it was confirmed for us by those who had heard. God added his testimony by signs, wonders, various acts of power, and distribution of the gifts of the Holy Spirit according to his will”(He 2 : 2-4). “Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone out into the worldˮ (1 Jn 4 : 1).

The Apostles received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost: they are full, they leave the upper room, they go everywhere to announce the Good News. They are led by the Spirit in their decisions: “The Holy Spirit and we decided … (Ac 15, 28) ˮ. “

…Because the Spirit of God is a Spirit of wisdom and therefore, when he lives in us, he is a spirit of calm, prudence, foresight before action, moderation in action and constancy after action […]. Is the Spirit of understanding which never acts aimlessly, but which measures the balance of the world before embarking on creation, a Spirit which proportions the means to the end which do not demand results greater than the powers which produce them, a Spirit of Counsel which enables the person who is full of the Spirit to act without haste, after due reflection, distrusting himself and taking advice from elders…” (De Brésillac, Retreat to missionaries, p. 160).

“My experience in a community of seminarians and confreres trainers from fourteen (14) countries makes me say that community life is a wonderful school of life. In this school of life, the Holy Spirit made me understand that our “living together” is in itself a mission where we are sent to live the message of the Gospel: “Love God and your neighbour”. And yet “living together” has its challenges. In this regard, Brésillac is very encouraging when he said of the Spirit “a spirit of calm, prudence, forecasting before the act, the act of moderation, consistency after the act (Retreat to missionaries, p.160). It is indeed the Holy Spirit who gives the strength to overcome the demons of community life. The Spirit gives each of us the wisdom to accept our differences”. Question: In the heart of the challenges of community life the Lord calls us to love our neighbour. The Spirit of Counsel can identify the traps of the enemy of community life and avoid them. Do I listen every day the counsels of the Holy Spirit? “.

By Hervé Yepié Abou, SMA, Brésillac Center – Calavi

– 5 – Like the Apostles… Filled with the Holy Spirit

– 4 – Like the Apostles…“Go thus all the nations…

– 3 – Like the Apostles… The supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus

– 2 – Like the Apostles… In communion withe Christ who sends us

– 1 – LIKE THE APOSTLES… FOLLOWING JESUS SENT BY THE FATHER…