Tuesday 30 August 2022

Today is Tuesday the 30th August, in the 22nd week of Ordinary Time.

The community of Taizé sing 'Dominus Spiritus est'. The Lord is the Spirit; the Spirit gives life. God is the source of all life, the one in whom we live and move and have our being.

As I look around me now, at the people around me, can I sense God’s presence? Can I sense God’s Holy Spirit here? In these people? In me?

Dominus spiritus est
Spiritus autem vivificat
Spiritus autem vivificat


The Lord is the Spirit
The Spirit gives life

Today’s reading is from St Paul’s First letter to the Corinthians.

1 Cor 2:10-16

these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual.

Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are discerned spiritually. Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else’s scrutiny.

‘For who has known the mind of the Lord
so as to instruct him?’
But we have the mind of Christ.

Our reading today describes the work of the Spirit of God within us.

How do you picture God's Spirit?


Perhaps there is a symbol that is helpful, fire, wind, water, a dove perhaps?

Or maybe as a feeling that might be described as peace or presence.

Spend some time in prayer, opening up to the presence of God's Spirit.

How does it feel to be searched by the same Spirit who searches even the depths of God?


We recall the psalmist who cried out ,' Lord, you have searched me and you know me.'

What might the Spirit encounter in you today as you are searched?

As you listen to the reading again, notice what St Paul says about the difference between the unspiritual and spiritual.

Which gifts have been given to you by the Spirit?

Hold these out to God as offerings for the world today.


Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.