This Sunday’s readings: John 16:12-15

Reflections

If we think of the Holy Spirit only as an impersonal power or influence, then our thought will constantly be, how can I get hold of and use the Holy Spirit; but if we think of Him in the biblical way as a divine Person, infinitely wise, infinitely holy, infinitely tender, then our thought will constantly be, ‘How can the Holy Spirit get hold of and use me?’
~ R. A. Torrey, 1856-1928, Pastor, Educator, Writer

The matter is quite simple. The Bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand we are obliged to act accordingly. Take any words in the New Testament and forget everything except pledging yourself to act accordingly. My God, you will say, if I do that my whole life will be ruined. How would I ever get on in the world?
~ Soren Kierkegaard, 1813-1855, Danish Philosopher/Theologian

A writer who says that there are no truths, or that all truth is ‘merely relative,’ is asking you not to believe him. So don’t.
~ Roger Scruton, Modern Philosophy: An Introduction and Survey

Lord Peter Wimsey complains, “When I was a boy I always hated facts. Thought of them as nasty, hard things, all knobs.” Bunter replies, “My lord, facts are like cows. If you look them in the face hard enough, they generally run away.” … “A man was taken to the zoo and shown the giraffe. After gazing at it a little in silence: ‘I don’t believe it,’ he said.” Somehow, we humans interpret, dismiss or ignore the facts to keep our beliefs intact. The cows run away, and we don’t believe our lying eyes as we gaze at the giraffe.
~ Dorothy Sayers (1893-1957), English writer and essayist