Captivated by the Wrong Things: Returning to the Spirit’s Power
October 10, 2024 - Thursday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Galatians 3:1-5
In today’s passage from Paul’s letter to the Galatians, the apostle confronts the Galatians for turning away from the truth of the Gospel and embracing a distorted version of it. Paul asks a powerful question: “Who has bewitched you?” (Gal. 3:1). We might ask ourselves the same question today: who or what is bewitching us?
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language defines the word "bewitch" as being "placed under one's power by magic" or "completely captivated." The aim of bewitching someone is to gain control over them. In the Philippines, I have heard stories of boys using charms to bewitch girls they liked. History, on the other hand, gives us ample examples of certain figures who were able to "bewitch" entire nations, ascend to the highest leadership positions, and lead their countries into disaster. Today, many of us are captivated by consumerism, social media, and new ideologies. The problem with being captivated, like the Galatians, is that it makes us lose sight of the Cross and leads us away from the simplicity of the Gospel.
The case of the Galatians is instructive because, like many of us, they began their journey of faith very well. They believed Paul's message, received the Holy Spirit, and experienced the mighty works of God. But then, other missionaries came and "bewitched" them. Many of us have had a similar experience. We begin our journey of faith with spiritual enthusiasm, but then something happens, and we start to rely on our own strength and methods. We forget our initial experiences of God's mighty works and begin to doubt His promises.
In one of his letters, Paul wrote: "Don’t fill yourself up with wine. Getting drunk will lead to wild living. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit" (Eph. 5:18). Some say that the Holy Spirit is the forgotten God; others say He is the forgotten "Power" behind the Christian life. In mission, we often rely on methods developed in secular fields, and in spiritual life, on our own efforts. Paul’s advice, "be filled with the Holy Spirit," reminds us of the fundamental truth that the Christian life relies on God's grace and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The mission of the Church began with Pentecost, and the Galatians experienced great things because the Holy Spirit descended upon them.
A beautiful contemporary testimony to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit is found in Jackie Pullinger’s book "Chasing the Dragon". The subtitle says it is about "One woman’s struggle against the darkness of Hong Kong’s drug dens." But in fact, Jackie Pullinger's wonderful book glorifies God and reveals how the Holy Spirit can transform drug addicts into disciples of Christ. The Galatians wanted to replace the Holy Spirit with their own efforts. But, as "Chasing the Dragon" proves, there is no substitute for the power of Christ's Spirit.
The Galatians began with the Holy Spirit, and to reach their goal, they should have continued relying on the Holy Spirit. Let us learn from their mistake. Let us daily invoke the Holy Spirit to fill us and lead us through life. Let us live our Christian lives in dependence on the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. By doing so, we have the assurance of reaching the true aim of our lives. “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love.”