GIFTS OF KNOWLEDGE AND COUNSEL


SATURDAY, SEVENTH WEEK OF EASTERTIDE   

Acts 28:16-20,30-31; Ps 11:4-5,7; Jn 21:20-25

The Spirit of Knowledge and Counsel

On the last day of our Novena to the Holy Spirit, we consider the gifts of knowledge and Counsel, the last two of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. The gift of knowledge is the Spirit’s aid to our knowledge of earthly things. It is surely about knowledge of earthly things, but it goes deeper than our mere scientific knowledge of creatures to ground them in our faith in God. It helps us to know things in their interconnectedness and the way they serve the will of the Creator, God. It offers us knowledge of the divine plan in things and in earthly affairs, all working together for the realisation of man’s salvation and the glory of God. We may have a profound scientific knowledge of creatures, human history, and their activities. Without the spiritual gift of knowledge, we will not see how our scientific knowledge serves the will of God and his divine plan for salvation. We easily notice this gift in Saint John, the beloved apostle. His deep spiritual knowledge, showcased in the fourth Gospel, is unparalleled. The Holy Spirit gave him the gift of knowledge to confirm the divinity of Jesus Christ. “This disciple is the one who vouches for these things and has written them down, and we know that his testimony is true.”

While the gift of knowledge is for speculative knowledge, the gift of counsel is for practical purposes. The gift of counsel blends well with that of knowledge; it is the application of the supernatural knowledge to chart a course or path that will bring us eternal life. The importance of this gift is evident in the fact that we refer to the Holy Spirit as the Counsellor. He illuminates our minds with divine truths, showing us how the natural or physical things are rooted in them, and subsequently guides us on the salvific path that is always open to us. The gift of counsel is most important in situations of difficult moral choices. Illuminating our minds with divine truths and knowledge of earthly things and their roots in God, he counsels on the right choice of action in obedience to the will of God. To acquire knowledge of some things, both earthly and heavenly, is sometimes very difficult; but knowing the right course of action in difficult moral situations is even more difficult. Our love for ease and self-preservation would usually nudge us to flee difficulties and dangers. The Counsellor, who is with us, helps by directing and leading us on the right path that would give glory to God, witness to the saving love of Christ, and win us salvation in Christ Jesus. From our understanding of the gift of knowledge as encompassing earthly and heavenly things, we see that the gift of counsel benefits us in both temporal and spiritual matters. Saint Paul was able to arrive in Rome in peace and quietly witnessed to the Gospel following the counsel of the Holy Spirit. “Paul spent the whole of the two years in his own rented lodging. He welcomed all who came to visit him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete freedom and without hindrance from anyone.”

As we have noted above, these two gifts are inherently connected. Through knowledge, the Holy Spirit illuminates our minds with knowledge, both human and divine; through counsel, he guides our hearts with the light of spiritual knowledge to love rightly and our wills to act rightly in accordance with a good conscience. David expressed the solid formation and structure these two gifts offer us in Psalm 16:7-8. “I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I keep the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” The Holy Spirit is with us always to teach us divine truths, and guides our choices of actions as our Counsellor. Just as our Lord Jesus Christ called Peter and John to be his apostles, and guided them on different paths according to the will of God for each of them. The Holy Spirit is always with us as our Counsellor. He teaches us divine truths, helping us to understand creation, our lives here on earth, and to fulfil the will of God for each of us. We must be attentive internally to receive illuminations of divine truths, awake and vigilant in the night to hear his counsel and follow. As the psalmist states: “The Lord tests the just and the wicked; the lover of violence he hates. The Lord is just and loves justice; the upright shall see his face.” May the Holy Spirit come with his seven sanctifying gifts and fill our hearts with his presence.

Let us pray: Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we, who have celebrated the paschal festivities, may by your gift hold fast to them in the way that we live our lives. Through our Lord Jesus, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. 

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