Come Holy Spirit Series: The Holy Spirit changes our Hearts and moves us to act

 Come Holy Spirit Series

Come Holy Spirit

Come Holy Spirit: Walking with Jesus in Ordinary Time

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time — Year A

The Holy Spirit Changes Our Hearts and Moves Us to Act

 

Introduction

After a short break, we return to our weekly question:

What is the Holy Spirit doing in this Sunday's Gospel?

This week Jesus tells a very simple story.

A father asks his two sons to go and work in his vineyard.

The first refuses.

But later, he changes his mind and goes.

The second gives exactly the right answer:

“Certainly, sir.”

But he never goes.

It is a short parable, but it asks us an uncomfortable question.

Is our faith found only in the words we say—or is it changing the way we live?

This is where we can recognise the quiet work of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit changes our hearts and moves us to act.

 

The Gospel

“Which of the two did the father's will?”
— Matthew 21:31

The answer seems obvious.

The first son.

His original response was wrong. He refused his father.

Yet that was not the end of his story.

Something changed.

He reconsidered.

He turned around.

And then he went into the vineyard.

 

 What Is the Holy Spirit Doing in This Gospel?

The Holy Spirit is calling us to conversion.

Conversion does not mean that we have always responded perfectly to God.

Quite the opposite.

Sometimes conversion begins with recognising:

I said no.

I went the wrong way.

I knew what God was asking, but I did not do it.

And then comes one of the most beautiful possibilities in the Christian life:

We can change our minds.

We can turn around.

We can begin again.

This is the work of grace.

The Holy Spirit awakens our conscience, helps us recognise where our lives need to change, and gives us the strength to take the next step.

The first son's original “no” did not have to become his final answer.

Neither does ours.

 

 Walking with Jesus This Week

There can sometimes be a gap between the faith we profess and the faith we live.

We can say:

“Lord, I trust You.”

Yet continue trying to control everything ourselves.

We can pray:

“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Yet hold tightly to resentment.

We can ask God to use us.

Then hesitate when He gives us an opportunity to serve.

We can say:

“Come, Holy Spirit.”

Yet resist when the Spirit actually asks us to change.

Jesus is not asking us merely to say the right things.

He wants our yes to become visible in our lives.

And when it doesn't, the Holy Spirit gently calls us back.

 

From Intention to Action

Perhaps this week's Gospel gives us a very practical prayer:

“Holy Spirit, show me where my words and my actions do not yet match.”

Then we listen.

Perhaps the answer will concern forgiveness.

Perhaps prayer.

Perhaps generosity.

Perhaps an apology that needs to be made.

Perhaps someone needs our time.

Perhaps there is something we have been postponing because it feels inconvenient or difficult.

The Holy Spirit may not ask us to do something dramatic.

Often He simply shows us the next faithful thing.

And then He gives us the grace to do it.

 

It Is Never Too Late to Say Yes

There is tremendous hope hidden within this little parable.

The first son got it wrong.

But he was allowed to change.

God did not say:

"You refused Me earlier, so it is too late now."

The vineyard was still waiting.

The invitation remained.

That tells us something beautiful about conversion.

As long as God is calling us, there is an opportunity to respond.

We may regret yesterday's answer.

The Holy Spirit invites us to give God a different answer today.

Our failures need not have the final word.

Grace can turn a no into a yes.

 For Reflection This Week

• Is there an area of my life where I know what God is asking but have not yet acted?
• Where might the Holy Spirit be inviting me to change my mind or direction?
• Are there places where my words of faith and my actions do not quite match?
• What is one small, practical yes I can give God this week?

Come, Holy Spirit. Turn our good intentions into faithful action. When we have said no, give us the grace to turn around, begin again, and make our lives a wholehearted yes to God.

And I think “The first son's original no did not have to become his final answer” is the little nugget at the centre of this week's post. It prevents the parable becoming merely “Don't be like the second son.” Instead, it becomes a Gospel of hope and conversion: the Holy Spirit can still work with our no and lead us towards a yes.

 Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit.

Show me where my words and my actions do not yet match.

Give me the humility to recognise the times when I have said no to God.

When I have chosen the wrong path, give me the courage to turn around.

When I know what God is asking of me, move me beyond good intentions into faithful action.

Do not allow yesterday's failures to discourage me from answering God's call today.

Change my heart.

Strengthen my will.

And help my life to become a genuine yes to God.

Come, Holy Spirit.

Lead me into the Father's vineyard and teach me to do His will.

Amen.