It seems this year more than ever Halloween has really taken off! I don’t think I ever saw such an array of scary masks and even houses decked out with witches, skeletons and lanterns. I was reminded of Halloween at home. I remember my Mum scooping out the insides of the turnip and the little butts of candles placed in them. I remember my Dad fixing the spinning wheels to our front railing, spinning the sparklers in my tiny hand, and being nervous of the rockets in the milk bottles. Of course I also remember diving for the apple in the basin of water, and hoping I would get the money or the ring in the brack. I also remember buying Katy Coyle a toffee apple in The Squirrel and daring to squeeze her hand as we walked back. Above all I remember her smile, and me absolutely thrilled with myself. I do not remember much fear in my life at that stage, at least if there was fear it did not last long and had little impact. I had yet to meet Loss or Betrayal. In my little world it was warm and secure. I have been thinking this week about Halloween, and wondering why children enjoy it so much. Could it be that they are so carefree that fear is not real for them? Fear for them is thrill. Excitement. It’s the chase, the close shave, the laughter and the premise that the scary stuff can do us no harm. Maybe it’s the same reason that we adults grow away from Halloween. Is it that we have encountered sickness in ourselves and our loved ones? Is it that we have glimpsed death? Is it that fear is only too real in our lives, that we neither need, nor want, the fear-filled play of Halloween?
Of course with Halloween and November comes the dark evenings. It’s a time for coughs and sneezes and worse still the dreaded flu, even with the flu injection! Where is that hot water bottle? Electric blankets and heavier duvets! Having said all that, there are lovely things about this time of year: the carpet of leaves in the park, the reds and browns of Autumn, and the cool crisp fresh air. With November comes thoughts of those we miss. It can be a lonely time. Yet there is something comforting, if not exactly cosy about it. Sometimes people develop an unhealthy pre-occupation with the dead. This can lead to wasting time, not to mention money, on things like psychic chat lines and tarot cards. I find the words of Jesus very comforting in this regard. He tells us there is plenty of room in the Kingdom of God, that he goes before us to prepare a place for us, and that he comes to take us with him. In a nutshell he asks us to repent and believe in the gospel, and then trust in his promise. His promise is paradise. Surely this is enough? Or is it?
I think when it comes to matters of the Spirit we are quite impoverished. In one sense we are fascinated by the realm of the spiritual, but sadly we fail to see what is actually under our nose. Whilst we are often intrigued with talk of spirits and ghosts, sadly we are uncomfortable and perhaps embarrassed to talk about either the Evil Spirit or the Holy Spirit. I find when I speak of the Evil Spirit there are two extreme reactions: on the one hand there are those who dismiss it’s very existence, and on the other hand those
who delight in the mention of it and tend to think it is everywhere from the porridge to the steps on the pavement. Both are unhealthy. Actually the way to get a balanced perspective on the Evil Spirit is to develop our understanding, and indeed our relationship, with the Holy Spirit. Do we believe that God’s Holy Spirit is within us? Do we believe that what we formerly called the Holy Ghost, is the Holy Spirit, is the third person of the Holy Trinity? Do we believe in the Holy Breath of God? Do we believe that it was the movement of the Holy Spirit in the conclave that led to the election of Pope Francis? Do we really believe that we receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit at our Confirmation? Do we know what these gifts are? They are: wisdom, understanding, right judgement, courage, knowledge, reverence, and wonder and awe in God’s presence. What an armoury to empower us on our pilgrim way! Do we as people of faith believe that no spirit, no ghoul, no spook, no demon, singularly or collectively, will ever be any match, never mind be victor, over God’s Holy Spirit. Do we believe that it is through the power of the Holy Spirit that the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus? It is the Holy Spirit that hovers on the water in Genesis, the same Holy Spirit at the Annunciation, the Baptism of Jesus, the same Holy Spirit commended into the hands of the Father from the Cross. Yes, my friends this November let us remember the gift the Holy Spirit and its power.
Fraternally JoeMcD 20.10.22
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