Easter 2026 - Reading #29 - Counsel
Reading
Jesus promises the gift of counsel through the sending of the Holy Spirit: "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you" (John 14:26). And again: "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come" (John 16:13).
In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus explicitly connects the gift of counsel to moments of trial: "When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you" (Matthew 10:19-20).
Jesus does not promise that the Spirit's counsel will come in advance, neatly packaged and easy to follow. He promises that it will come in the hour of need, when the decision must be made, when the words must be spoken, when the action must be taken. The gift of counsel is thus a gift of trust: trust that the Spirit is present and active even when we cannot plan every step in advance.
Reflection
Thirty days into Easter. Jesus himself describes the gift of counsel as the Spirit who teaches, guides, and speaks through us, especially in the moments when we most need wisdom and least have time to generate it ourselves.
There is something deeply consoling in Jesus's promise to the disciples. He does not say: "I will give you a detailed manual that covers every situation." He says: "The Spirit will be with you, and when you need to speak, the words will be given." This is the nature of counsel, it is not a roadmap handed to us at the beginning of the journey but a Guide who walks beside us, speaking at each turn.
Many of us want the roadmap. We want to know in advance what to do, when to do it, and how it will turn out. The gift of counsel does not work that way. It works in the present moment, in response to the actual situation unfolding before us. This requires trust, the trust we have been building throughout this Easter season through fear of the Lord, piety, knowledge, and fortitude. We trust the character of God (fear and piety). We see the world clearly (knowledge). We have the strength to act (fortitude). And now counsel promises that when the moment comes, the Spirit will show us what to do.
Today, instead of agonizing over a decision, try bringing it to the Spirit in prayer and then acting. Not recklessly, but attentively, listening for the quiet guidance that the gift of counsel provides to those who are willing to move forward in trust.