Posted by The WORD in other words (2006) by Father Bernard Collera SVD – Catholic Trade Manila
Wednesday 6th Week of Easter
The stage before priestly ordination is the diaconate, where one is trained to proclaim the Gospel and preach. After ordination, this training becomes a lifelong mission. At times, the task feels heavy, especially when pastoral work overwhelms and the body grows weary. It is then that the value of prayer before proclamation becomes clear. The presider blesses the deacon with the words: “The Lord be in your heart and on your lips that you may worthily proclaim His Gospel.” As priests, we continue this prayer, bowing before the altar and asking the Lord for the Spirit’s help to proclaim His Word faithfully.
What we proclaim is not our own message but His Gospel. Jesus Himself said: “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). The Spirit ensures that our preaching glorifies the Son, who in turn glorifies the Father. Without the Spirit, we risk proclaiming ourselves, our needs, or our visions, which may not align with God’s plan.
St. Paul reminds us: “Our sufficiency is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant” (2 Corinthians 3:5–6). It is the Spirit who equips us to preach with conviction, so that faith is strengthened and remains rooted in truth.
The same applies to listening. Often, we hear only what pleases us and ignore what God wants to tell us. Jesus warns: “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it” (Luke 11:28). Listening requires openness to the Spirit, who teaches us to receive the Word not selectively but wholly, for our good.
The Church continually shows the veracity of the Spirit’s presence — teaching, guiding, and illuminating us in the truths of faith. It is the Spirit who speaks through the preacher, and it is the Spirit who opens the heart of the listener. As Jesus said: “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63).
“Come, Holy Spirit, fill our hearts and guide both our speaking and our listening, that all may glorify the Father through the Son.”
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