Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.
“Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.”
REFLECTION
“Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven."
St John Paul IIin 1986 wrote the encyclical Dominum et Vivificantem. It was written in three parts and Part II explains one of the most important works of the Holy Spirit: "to convince the world concerning sin." The Holy Spirit does not simply condemn or accuse us. He reveals our sin so that we can recognize it, repent, and receive the mercy won for us by Christ on the Cross. The danger comes when a person continually refuses the Spirit: "I do not need forgiveness. I will not repent. I will not change."
The Holy Spirt reveals our sin →awakens our conscience →leads us to the Cross→ moves us to repentance → opens us to God's forgiveness→ gives us new life.
Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the tragic reversal of that movement.
The Spirit reveals sin →the person refuses the truth→ refuses repentance→ refuses mercy→ hardens the heart.
The unforgivable sin is not unforgiveable because God lacks mercy. It becomes unforgiveable when we refuse to receive His mercy.
Today we celebrate the memorial of St Ignatius of Antioch. He was one of the earliest bishops and martyrs of the Church. Tradition holds that he was a disciple of St John the Apostle. He became the bishop of Antioch, a very important Christian community. During the reign of Trajan he was imprisoned because of his faith.
St Ignatius shows us what a heart completely open to the Holy Spirit looks like. He answered "Yes" when he was taken to Rome to face martyrdom. He did not deny God or cling to his own will. He belonged totally to God.
When we get a "nudge" it could be the Holy Spirit. He might be showing us something that needs changing in our lives. Could it be resentment, pride, jealousy, impatience, selfishness, unforgiveness or some attachment?
Remember:
Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is not simply saying something insulting about the Holy Spirt.
Rather:
It is the deliberate and persistent refusal to accept the forgiveness that God offers through the Holy Spirit.
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