The
Preacher, the Organ of the Holy Spirit
by Rev. Francis A. Baker
Fourth Sunday after Easter
“When
the Spirit of Truth shall come, He will lead you unto all truth.” John
16:13
I
A
I need hardly say that the words “all truth” in this promise mean all truth relating to our salvation. It is no part of our Lord’s plan to teach us the truths of natural science. He leaves us to discover these by our own intelligence. He comes to teach us faith and morals – what we are to believe, and what we are to do, in order to be saved.
B
He did this while He was on earth by His conversations with His disciples, and by His public sermons to the Jews; but He promised that this work should be carried on after His death more extensively and systematically. Thus, in the words of the text: “When He the Spirit of Truth shall come He will lead you into all truth.” And again: “The Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and will bring all things to your mind whatsoever I shall have said to you.” (John 14:26) It cannot but be a matter of interest to inquire in what manner this promise has been fulfilled.
II
A
I answer, the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth necessary to our salvation by the public preaching of the Word of God. If we examine our Lord’s words attentively, we shall be led to the conclusion that the ministry of the Holy Spirit to which He alludes is a public ministry. His own ministry was a public one, and in promising that the Holy Spirit should carry it on and complete it, He leads us to anticipate that the ministry of the Holy Spirit would also be public. And His own subsequent language shows that this is really so, and acquaints us with the way in which this ministry is to be exercised.
B
Just before our Lord’s Ascension He met the Apostles on a mountain in Galilee, and said to them: “All power is given to Me in heaven and in earth. Go you, therefore, and teach all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.” (Matthew 28: 18-20) August and extensive as this commission was, it did not by itself qualify the Apostles for their great work.
C
They were to wait in Jerusalem “till they were endued with power from on high.” This “power” was the Holy Spirit which actually did descend on them at the feast of Pentecost. Here we find a company of men commissioned by Christ to teach the world in His name, and empowered by the Holy Spirit for that purpose. We find these men afterward everywhere claiming to be the organs of the Holy Spirit.
D
Thus, at the Council of Jerusalem, they did not hesitate to publish their decrees with this preface: “It has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us.” (Acts 15:28) And St. Paul tells the bishops of Ephesus, that they were placed over the Church “by the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 20:28)
III
A
Now, who does not see here the realization and the fulfillment of the great promise of Christ which I have quoted as my text? That teaching of the Holy Spirit which was to follow His, which was to bring all things to remembrance which He had said, which was to abide forever, and which was to make known all necessary truth, was the teaching of the Apostles and their successors. It is the teaching of the Holy Sprit, because the Holy Spirit moves them to preach, furnishes them with the rule of their doctrine, and gives them their warrant and authority.
B
In this sense it is that our Lord’s promise is to be understood. It is a promise that reaches to all time. It concerns us here and now. It assures that at this day, far removed as we are from the times of Christ, across so many centuries, the Holy Spirit through the agency of the Church still brings to us the echoes of His words. He does this in the most solemn and authoritative way by those great decisions of the Church to which He sets the seal of His Infallibility; but he does it in less solemnity, less authoritatively, but more frequently, by the preaching of each individual priest.
C
It is for this end that the priest is ordained. He is consecrated and set apart, not merely to say Mass; not merely to receive the confessions of penitent sinners and absolve them, but to publish the Word of God; and He is empowered by the Holy Spirit for this very purpose.
D
The Christian preacher is no mere lecturer, but an authorized agent and messenger of God to deliver to the people the will of God. It is chiefly by the ordinance of preaching, in its various forms, that the Holy Spirit carries on the work of instructing men’s faith, and regulating their morals.
IV
A
And here, I think, is to be found the real answer to a misconception of our principles so common among Protestants. It is very commonly said and believed that the Catholic Church wishes to keep the people in ignorance of the Scriptures. Now, this is not true. The Church does not wish to keep the Scriptures from the people. On the contrary, in all cases in which they are likely to prove beneficial she approves and encourages their use; but she does not regard the reading of the Scriptures as the necessary, or even as the ordinary mode of familiarizing the people with the Word of God.
B
Thousands have gone to heaven who never read one page of the Bible. St. Irenaeus instances whole nations who professed and practiced Christianity in entire ignorance of the Divine Records. How many people in every generation are unable to read. Now, God has not made a twofold system of salvation; one for the ignorant and one for the educated. No: according to the Catholic idea, for rich and poor, for learned and unlearned alike, there is one way of truth – the living voice of the preacher. This is God’s way. This is the Voice of the Holy Spirit. This is the publication of the Word of God.
C
This is the sword of the Spirit. The decree has never been revoked: “The priest’s lips shall keep knowledge; and the people shall seek the law at his mouth; because he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts.” (Malachi 2:7)
V
A
But an objection may be drawn against this high view of the ordinance of preaching, from the infirmities of the preacher himself. It may be said: You tell us that the Holy Spirit speaks by the voice of the preacher, yet the preacher is but fallible and, ignorant of many things, liable to be deceived himself, not free from passions which may affect his judgment. May he not falsify his message? May he not dishonor it?
B
I do not deny the fact on which this objection is founded. Undoubtedly, the preacher may be unfaithful in the delivery of his message. In the Catholic Church, however, the watchfulness of discipline, and the general acquaintance on the part of the people with the standards of faith and practice, will prevent any very serious error finding its way into the public teaching of the priest. Who supposes, for instance, that any Catholic congregation would tolerate from the pulpit a denial of Transubstantiation, or the true Divinity of our Lord, or the necessity of good works?
C
But within a certain limit, no doubt, there may be much imperfection in the preacher, much that detracts from the purity, the majesty, and the dignity of the Word of God. What then? I affirm, nevertheless, that preaching is the great instrument of the Holy Spirit for the conversion of souls. Strange, that we should start back at every new manifestation of a law that goes all through Christianity, and even through all the arrangements of the natural world.
D
In every department of human life, God makes man His representative – man fallible and weak. The judge on the bench represents God’s Wisdom and Equity, though his decisions are often far enough from that Divine pattern. The magistrate represents God’s authority, though in his hands that authority is sometimes made the warrant for tyranny and oppression. So, in like manner, the preacher represents the Holy Spirit, though he does not always represent Him worthily either in manner or matter.
VI
A
It is part of a plan. He who chooses man, sinful like ourselves, and encompassed with infirmities, to convey His pardon to the guilty, chooses as the organ of the Eternal Wisdom, “holy, one, manifold, subtle, eloquent, undefiled, having all power, overseeing all things, the Brightness of Divine Light, the unspotted mirror of God’s Majesty” – man with stammering lips, with a feeble intellect and an impure heart.
B
And there is a reason in this plan. When the Church goes out to evangelize a new and strange people, she seeks, as soon as possible, to secure some of the natives to aid her in her work, who know the speech, and the manners, and the habits of thought, of those with whom they have to deal. No doubt her old, tried missionaries could furnish an instruction which would be more complete in itself, but the words of the neophyte will be better understood and received. So God, when He speaks to man, chooses as His instrument one who understands the dialect of earth.
C
An angel would be a messenger answering better His dignity, but less to our necessities; so He considers our welfare alone, and passes by Raphael, “who is one the of daily angels,” and Michael, “who is one of the chief princes,” and Gabriel, who is the strength of God, and chooses Moses, who was “slow of speech,” and Jeremiah, who was diffident as a child, and Amos, who was but a herdsman, following the flock – to utter His will to man.
D
The human alloy in the Divine Word, no doubt, makes it less accurate, but it makes it more easily understood. Oh! it is a mercy of God thus to disguise Himself and dilate His Word. The children of Israel said to Moses: “Speak to us, and we will hear. Let not the Lord speak anymore to us, lest we die.” (Exodus 20:19) Who could look upon the Lord and live?
E
Who could listen to His voice in its un-tempered majesty and not be afraid? “The word of God is more penetrating than any two-edged sword, reaching unto the decision of the soul and the spirit, of the joints also, and the marrow.” (Hebrews 4:12)
F
Do not be displeased, then, because God has sent to you a messenger like yourself, one who speaks your language, who shares your ignorance and your frailties; pardon him, forgive him his defects, strain you ear to detect in his lowly language some notes of that great message of Eternal Truth and Infinite Love, the story so old yet ever new – the love of Christ, the will of God, the end of man, grace, holiness, and eternity, those things on which depend our happiness here and our salvation hereafter.
VII
A
But here I feel as if I ought to add a word or two of explanation. When I say that the Holy Spirit teaches by the voice of the preacher, I do not mean to assert that He teaches in no other way. A very great part of the preacher’s message consists of truths which are already written by the finger of God on every man’s natural conscience. A preacher is not required to make us understand that it is wrong to break the precepts of the moral law. Natural reason, the light that enlightens every man that comes into this world, tells us that.
B
I could not but be struck the other day, as I passed two young men in the street, at hearing the honest protest with which one of them met the sophistry in which his companion was evidently trying to indoctrinate him: “What!” said he, “you don’t mean to say it isn’t a sin to get drunk!” Indeed, it is seldom that men justify themselves for actions that are plainly wrong. They are still too full of the Holy Spirit for that.
C
Passion corrupts their will, but does not always darken their understanding. They know the right while they pursue the wrong. But this circumstance does not make the office of the preacher unnecessary; by no means. On the contrary, it is from this that the preacher derives a great part of his power. What he says finds an echo in the hearts of his hearers.
D
One of the strongest things that St. Paul said in his defense before Agrippa was the appeal: “King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” (Acts 26:27) And so when the preacher is speaking before a congregation, of justice, of temperance, of judgment to come, do you know what it is that gives him such boldness and daring?
E
My brethren, I will tell you a secret. Perhaps you may sometimes have felt surprise when you have heard us, who have so many reasons for feeling diffident before you, so keen in denouncing your sins, so vehement in urging you to your duties. Are we not afraid of wounding your pride, of alienating your affections? No: it is in your hearts that we have our strength. We would not dare to speak so unless we knew that we had a powerful ally in your hearts – your better nature, your reason, your conscience, the divinity that is within you.
F
It is the greatest mistake in the world to suppose that it is un-necessary to tell people what they know already. Half the good advice that is given in the world consists of the most commonplace and familiar truths, but will anyone say for that reason that it is useless? No: the fact is, it is a great help to hear our own convictions uttered outside of us.
G
A man believes more, is more conscious of his belief, his belief becomes more distinct, more serviceable, when he hears it from another’s lips. What mercy of God it is, then, in a world like this, where there are so many temptations, where there are so many evil examples, so much to draw off the mind from God, where it is so easy to observe the line between right and wrong, that there should be an authoritative voice lifted up from time to time in warning!
H
What
a mercy in those dreadful moments when the conflict rages high between passion
and principle, and the soul, weary of the strife, is on the point of surrender,
to be reinforced by God Almighty’s aid – to hear His voice amid the strife,
saying: “This is the way; walk in it!” (Isaiah 30:21)
VIII
A
And then it must be remembered, too, that there is much of the preacher’s message that is not known to man’s natural reason, consisting of mysteries deep and high, which at the best can be known only in part; and it is apparent how much it must depend on the preacher’s office to keep these mysteries in men’s minds, and to secure from them a place in men’s intelligence and affections.
B
The Christian Faith has always, from the beginning, been surrounded by adversaries who have attacked it, now on one side, now on another. We are apt to think it our peculiar misfortune to hear continually the doctrines of our faith disputed; but in fact such has been, more or less, the trial of each generation of Christian believers.
C
Now, amid such ceaseless controversies, what means has our Lord left to protect and defend His people from doubt and error? The ministry of preaching. Therefore, says the Holy Scripture: “Some He gave to be Apostles, and some prophets, and others evangelists, and others pastors and teachers, that we may not now be children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, in the wickedness of men, in craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive.” (Ephesians 4:11)
D
It is the office of the preacher to declare Christian doctrine, to defend and explain it, to show its consistency and excellence, to answer objections against it, and thus to add to the power of hereditary faith the force of personal conviction. The Church has always understood this, and therefore, whenever a new heresy arises, she sends out a new phalanx of preachers to confront it by good and sound doctrine.
E
And the enemies of the Church have always understood it, and therefore, in times of persecution, when they wished to deal the Christian faith a deadly blow, they sought in the first place, by the murder of bishop and priest, to silence the voice of the teacher.
F
It was one of the last woes threatened against Jerusalem that the people should seek in vain for a vision of the prophet, and that the law should perish from the priests; (Ezekiel 7:26) and when in the Christian Church there shall be heard no more the message of truth, when there shall be no more reproof, no more instruction in justice, the iniquity shall come in like a flood; then shall be the abomination of desolation, and the time of Anti-Christ.
IX
A
Great, then, my brethren, is the dignity of preaching. It is God speaking on Mount Sinai. It is Jesus preaching on the Mount. It is the Divine Sower scattering the seeds of truth and virtue. The Holy Spirit has not left the world. In every Christian Church, at every Mass, the day of Pentecost is renewed.
B
See, the priest has clothed himself to celebrate the unbloody sacrifice. He has ascended the altar. Already the clouds of incense hang over the mercy-seat, and hymns of praise ascend; - but he stops, he turns to the people. Why does he interrupt the Mass? Has he seen a vision? Has an angel spoken to him, as of old to the prophet Zachariah?
C
Yes, he has seen a vision. He has heard a voice. A fire is in his heart. A living coal has touched his lips, the Breath of the Spirit has passed over him, and he speaks as he is moved by the Holy Spirit. Listen to him, for he is a prophet. He speaks to you from God. What is your misery? What is your sorrow? What is your trial? Now you shall find relief. Are you in doubt about religious truth? Listen, and you shall find the answer to those doubts. Are you sorely tempted to sin?
D
Now God will give you an oracle to strengthen you. Are you distressed and suffering? Have you a secret sorrow? Now you shall receive an answer of comfort. Do you wish to know how to advance in God’s love? Now the way shall be made plain before your face. O blessed truth! God has not left Himself without a witness.
E
The world is not to have it all its own way. The teachings of Satan are not to go on all the week unchallenged. The dream of the heathen, that there are sacred spots on earth from where Divine Oracles issue, is fulfilled. The Chair of Truth is set up for the enlightenment of the nations. “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; to them that dwelt in the region of the shadow of death light is sprung up.” “The earth is filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 9:2)
F
This subject suggests some very practical reflections. I am not unmindful that some of them concern the preacher himself. I do not forget that the thought of the high dignity of his office calls for the greatest purity of purpose and diligence of preparation; but while I remember this, allow me also to remind you of your duty in listening to the preacher. St. Paul praises the Thessalonians because they listened to his words, not as the words of man, but as the words of God.
G
In the sense in which the teaching of an uninspired man can be so designated, have you thus listened to the preacher’s words? Has it been a task to you to listen to the sermon? Have you sought only to be amused? Have you been critical and captious? Or, acknowledging the truth you have heard, have you been careless about putting it in practice?
H
Oh, how much the preaching of God’s word might profit us, if we brought the right dispositions to the hearing of it! If we came to Church, eager to know more of God, with a single heart desirous to nourish our souls with His truth, what progress we should make! A single sermon has before now converted men. St. Anthony, hearing but a single text, embraced a saintly life.
I
If we had such dispositions, if each Sunday found us diligent hearers of God’s Word, anxious to get some new thoughts about Him, some new motive to love Him, some new practical lesson, some new help against sin, it would not be long before the effect would be visible in us all. We should make progress in the knowledge of our religion. The devil and the world would assail us in vain. Scandals and sins would become rare. Heavenly virtues would spring up. Piety would become strong and manly. And that which the prophet describes would be fulfilled: “The Lord will fill your soul with brightness. And you shall be like a well-watered garden, and like a fountain of water, whose waters shall not fail.” (Isaiah 58:11)