It is a biblical fact that Word precedes Spirit. When the time was right, the Word became flesh in order to retell the story of humanity. When the time was right again, the Spirit was sent to the disciples to fill that narrative of salvation with feeling and meaning. It seems that this pattern—of creating a container and filling it, which is itself the pattern of creation where the sky, the seas and the earth were subsequently filled with stars, fish and animals—is simply the way that the Lord chooses to save. The Word functions as a mental marker that sets the stage for consciousness. When the Spirit arrives—and hopefully we are awake when it does!—we are in a position to recognize it and choose it and receive it as truth. Though this art of resonance looks different in different souls, the order of operations is always the same: I need to articulate my professional goals before chasing that dream job, and I need to talk to my crush before letting the passions of love take over. In this coming week, therefore, let’s not be afraid to strain our inner ear to listen carefully to the words that are being spoken within. Our spiritual cup is destined to be filled, and, in fact, overflow, as the story of our own goodness abounds. Ave Crux, Spes Unica.
