Saturday October 17th: The Spirit is Willing…Are You?

In the movie God’s Not Dead, Josh Wheaton is a college student, and a Christian, enrolling in one of his first college courses. Philosophy 150. The first day of class the teacher, Professor Radisson, presents to the class an assignment. They must sign a paper denying the existence of God. If they refuse, they will fail the course or they must debate their belief in God in front the the whole class. Through the course of the debate it becomes clear that Professor Radisson is not ignorant of God but is angry with God over the death of his mother when he was just 12 years old. And he has spent his life vehemently denying God’s existence and pressuring his students to accept the same belief.

In the film, Risen, the Roman soldier, Clavius, was responsible for carrying out the crucifixion of Jesus. After Christ’s body goes missing from the tomb, he is tasked with finding the body to disprove rumors of His resurrection. He then embarks on a journey of discovery that leads to not only finding the physical body of Christ alive but finds his own life in the spirit of the resurrected Lord. He comes to believe and accept.

These two films, I believe, demonstrate what Jesus meant when he stated that to blaspheme the Son of Man can be forgiven but blaspheming the Holy Spirit can never be forgiven. He was addressing the Pharisees who had seen the miracles and the works of Christ first hand. They heard His words, His sermons, His revelations and fulfillments of the Law. But yet, they could not, or would not, believe. They were not only denying Christ the man standing in front of them but they were denying the Spirit in Christ. Pride and lack of humility blinded them to what was right in front of their eyes. St. Paul says as much to the Ephesians in today’s first reading. That their eyes have been enlightened. But others have their eyes shut and their hearts hardened to the truth that is obvious. The narrow door is closed and the Spirit could not enter.

I discussed this point two weeks ago as well when talking about how the head, scholarly knowledge of God, can obscure the heart, the eyes of faith. Clavius’ eyes were opened when he allowed his heart to see the risen Christ. He could no longer deny the truth that was literally standing before him. Professor Radisson had seen the truth but refused to accept it as a result of the pain he experienced as a child. He denied what he knew to be true.

But as is demonstrated by the parable of the workers in the vineyard who received the same wages, regardless of how long they worked for, it matters not WHEN we come to accept Christ as our Savior. Just that we do. In the end of God’s Not Dead Professor Radisson is struck by a car and lie dying in the street. A passer-by stops to pray over him and asks if he will accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior. And he responds with his own Fiat..his own act of acceptance as did Mary when she is given the word that she is to be the Mother of God. And in the end he will stand alongside Clavius and Thomas and Peter and Jonah and Paul and, hopefully, you and I as we not only accept Jesus, God the Son of Man, but also God the Spirit.

About the Author

Hello! My name is John Ciribassi. I live in Carol Stream, IL in the USA. My wife Elise and I are parishioners at Corpus Christi Catholic Church. We have two adult daughters. One lives in Senegal, West Africa with her husband and her 3 sons. The other teaches Anthropology at the University of Oslo, Norway. We also have a home in Mainesburg, Pa in the North Central part of Pennsylvania. My wife and I are both retired veterinarians, and my specialty is in animal behavior. I attended college and veterinary school in Illinois, where I met my wife who is from the Chicago area, and the rest is history! My hobbies include Racquetball, Pickleball, Off Road Motorcycle Riding, Hiking and Camping. I continue to enjoy the opportunity to offer what little insight I have on the scriptures. But I have always felt that the scriptures can speak for themselves. My job is just to shine a little light on them for people who maybe don't have the time to look into the readings deeply. I hope you enjoy and find value in my writings. I continue to be grateful for this opportunity.

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14 Comments

  3. Thank you John. It’s a thought that gives me hope not only for myself, but for those I love who deny God. Praying for all people who have closed their hearts, it’s so encouraging, and hopeful, to remember that I don’t have to see it happen. Their conversion can be a last burst of light between themselves
    and the Lord.

  4. Interesting story lines. Acceptance comes at different times and places. Some single moments and some build over time. Regardless when it comes earthly life as we know it changes…the Holy Spirit works wonders. Thank you Mr C. Really incredible stuff.

  9. Very powerful reflection. For some reason it just struck me as such. Ride safe BTW, supposed to be 60 in Ohio today, I’m going riding to see God’s fall majesty!!

  11. John – I am going to have to disagree with you. Accepting Jesus “as your Lord and savior”, which is something that we hear our Protestant brothers and sisters frequently say or talk about, i.e. Justification By Faith. According to the Protestant faith, that acceptance guarantees you entry to heaven.

    That belief is contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church, Jesus’ Church. The Catholic Church teaches Faith and Works, and not Faith alone. While the Lord ultimately decides, according to the Church’s teachings, if Professor Radisson’s works or actions reflected his belief in God then he is likely to go to heaven.

  12. Anonymous
    From Matthew 10:33:
    “But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”

    and from Ephesians 2:8-9
    “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

    But not works alone…with faith:

    From James 2:24
    “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.”

    And James 2:14-26
    “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

    Not by faith alone nor by works alone. Faith without works is dead but works without acknowledgement that God is the creator of all things denies the Creator and denies the Son, and therefore the Resurrection. And without the resurrection our faith is nothing.

  13. And this from Focus on the Family:

    “Like the man who approached Jesus and used the word “good,” perhaps without giving it much thought, we too need to be careful how we use and define our terms. As Jesus answered, “No one is good – except God alone” (Mark 10:18; Luke 18:19). Do all “good” people go to heaven? Since no one is good as defined by God, the answer is, “No.” Those who enter heaven do so not on the basis of merit, but on the basis of God’s grace as bestowed by Jesus Christ. We can’t work our way to heaven or claim to be without sin (1 John 1:8). Instead, we must humbly submit to God, turn from our wrong behavior, and turn to Christ for salvation.”

  14. Anonymous

    I actually wrote up a response to your thoughts about how one’s works can allow the person to reach heaven without the faith that goes with it. For some reason ACM did not save my response and so was not posted. However, I would suggest looking at Monday’s readings (from October 19th) as well as the excellent reflection Mary Ortwein did on the subject of grace. I think it will help with your question.

    From my point of view we receive Grace from God as a free gift. This grace, if received with an open heart, should lead us to want to perform good works for others. For faith without works is dead. But works without faith denies Christ and therefore denies the resurrection. And without the resurrection we are lost.

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