Essential Spirit

You, brothers, must select from among yourselves seven men of good reputation, filled with the Spirit and with wisdom.

Acts.6:3

The Apostles instruct the fledgling Church to elect men of character to take over the logistical running of their assembly. The criteria for these deacons was to be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.

The pressing problem of the Church at that time was distribution of food. A pretty basic and temporal activity. However, it was seen that to carry out these practical duties, those assigned had to be actively spiritual. The Holy Spirit was seen not as an option or a preference but as an absolute essential for the functioning of the Church.

Everything I do for and in the Church is spiritual. Pouring cups of coffee after Mass, washing the cups afterwards, cleaning up broken glass from vandalism. All holy, all spiritual.

Come Holy Spirit. Fill me with your presence and with wisdom that I may serve the Church.

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.