Blaspheming the Holy Spirit and spiritual pride

[ErikaA]

This is a two part question. I am currently reading “Dark Night of the Soul” and something St. John said really struck me. He makes the comment that in some persons, the devil may increase the fervour that they have and their desire to perform good works so that their spiritual pride may grow. This is an insightful observation, yet I am reminded of Mark 3:23-29, when Jesus assails the Pharisees for claiming his works are the power of Satan. He says “How can Satan drive out Satan?..” and concludes by saying, “Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.”

First, what constitutes blaspheming the Holy Spirit (confusing good with evil perhaps)? And second, does St. John’s contention that the devil may increase our religious fervor to increase our spiritual pride contradict Mark 3:23-29? Why or why not?

Thank you very much for your help in interpreting this passage. This is very important to me.

 

[Ron_Conte]

Since blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is unforgiveable, it can only be the sin of final impenitence (refusing, through the last moment of life, to repent from actual mortal sin). Though it might seem as if we could cut ourselves off from God’s forgiveness and mercy in this life, we cannot. For He is infinite and unchanging, whereas we are finite and subject to change. So even the most hardened sinner is still reachable and changeable by God’s infinite mercy. It is only after this life ends that sins cannot be forgiven.

 

[thistle]

This is a two part question. I am currently reading “Dark Night of the Soul” and something St. John said really struck me. He makes the comment that in some persons, the devil may increase the fervour that they have and their desire to perform good works so that their spiritual pride may grow. This is an insightful observation, yet I am reminded of Mark 3:23-29, when Jesus assails the Pharisees for claiming his works are the power of Satan. He says “How can Satan drive out Satan?..” and concludes by saying, “Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.”

**First, what constitutes blaspheming the Holy Spirit (confusing good with evil perhaps)? **And second, does St. John’s contention that the devil may increase our religious fervor to increase our spiritual pride contradict Mark 3:23-29? Why or why not?

Thank you very much for your help in interpreting this passage. This is very important to me.

CCC 1864 “Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.” There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy by repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit. Such hardness of heart can lead to final impenitence and eternal loss.

 

[ErikaA]

Since blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is unforgiveable, it can only be the sin of final impenitence (refusing, through the last moment of life, to repent from actual mortal sin). Though it might seem as if we could cut ourselves off from God’s forgiveness and mercy in this life, we cannot. For He is infinite and unchanging, whereas we are finite and subject to change. So even the most hardened sinner is still reachable and changeable by God’s infinite mercy. It is only after this life ends that sins cannot be forgiven.

Thank you, but I don’t know if that’s what Jesus means when he makes this comment. It seems that in the context, he is trying to tell us what constitutes blaspheming the Holy Spirit. As though there is one sin from which you cannot return - crossing an eternal line so to speak. That’s the impression I get from this verse.

 

[Ron_Conte]

Thank you, but I don’t know if that’s what Jesus means when he makes this comment. It seems that in the context, he is trying to tell us what constitutes blaspheming the Holy Spirit. As though there is one sin from which you cannot return - crossing an eternal line so to speak. That’s the impression I get from this verse.

The idea that you could sin and then be unable to repent is contrary to the teaching of the Church, to the power of the mercy of God, and to the effectiveness of the Sacraments.

 

[ErikaA]

In Mark 3:30, Mark goes on to say that, “He said this because they were saying, ‘He has an evil spirit’.”

Breaking this down, Jesus is God. If a person says, God has evil within Him, then that person really doesn’t know God. They misunderstand the nature of God and in so doing, could they ever come to a saving faith in the one true God? Of course not. Now, could they later in life, get it? I don’t know. But it seems to me, repentance is impossible within one who despises God (which is what the Pharisees do).

 

[ErikaA]

The idea that you could sin and then be unable to repent is contrary to the teaching of the Church, to the power of the mercy of God, and to the effectiveness of the Sacraments.

I know you’re right here, but there is still a question in my mind as to the deeper meaning of this passage in Mark. And do you see my struggle with St. John’s comments on satan furthering our spiritual pride? I love his contention. It seems right on, yet is this a kingdom divided against itself?

 

[tz620q]

If you look at the context within Mark, you will see that Jesus was applying it specifically to the act of the Pharisees of saying that the works of Jesus were not of the Holy Spirit, but of the Devil. Barclay’s commentary points out that if someone is so far removed from God’s Grace as to confuse God’s work with that of the Devil, they have placed themselves out of the reach of the Holy Spirit and will not be forgiven, because they will not be convicted and will see no need for repentance.
What you have proposed in “Dark Night of the Soul” is actually the opposite of this situation. Here St. John says that it is possible for the Devil to deceive us into thinking our works are from the Holy Spirit, when they are actually at the prompting of Satan to build up self pride. So instead of attributing good works to the Devil, we are attributing bad works to the Holy Spirit. Since we are all open to Satan’s deceptions, I do not see a conflict with Mark.

 

[jcrichton]

This is a two part question. I am currently reading “Dark Night of the Soul” and something St. John said really struck me. He makes the comment that in some persons, the devil may increase the fervour that they have and their desire to perform good works so that their spiritual pride may grow. This is an insightful observation, yet I am reminded of Mark 3:23-29, when Jesus assails the Pharisees for claiming his works are the power of Satan. He says “How can Satan drive out Satan?..” and concludes by saying, “Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.”

First, what constitutes blaspheming the Holy Spirit (confusing good with evil perhaps)? And second, does St. John’s contention that the devil may increase our religious fervor to increase our spiritual pride contradict Mark 3:23-29? Why or why not?

Thank you very much for your help in interpreting this passage. This is very important to me.

***Hi, ErikaA!

…I’m confused (I don’t read much–not familiar with the title) are you calling St. Mark, St. John or are you referring to an actual passage from St. John’s Gospel?

What constitutes blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is not confusing one thing with another, it is the outright rejection of the Holy Spirit.

Here’s how it works:

a) You cannot come to me unless the Father send you
b) those who come to me I will not reject

Simple, huh?

But we are given to understand that the Holy Scriptures were inspired by the Holy Spirit which means that God the Father sends the Holy Spirit to His servants. The Holy Spirit then brings those who listen to Christ. Christ, through the Holy Spirit, Saves those who seek Him.

Remove the Holy Spirit and our connection to God is severed: there’s no repentence: there’s no Salvation!:

Jn:6:65:
65 (6-66) And he said: Therefore did I say to you that no man can come to me, unless it be given him by my Father.*** (DRV)

Jn:14:23:
23 Jesus answered and said to him: If any one love me, he will keep my word. And my Father will love him and we will come to him and will make our abode with him. (DRV)

16 And I will ask the Father: and he shall give you another Paraclete, that he may abide with you for ever: 17 The spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, nor knoweth him. But you shall know him; because he shall abide with you and shall be in you. (Jn:14:16-17–DRV)

We cannot deny the Holy Spirit because only through the Holy Spirit are we able to know God. Jesus puts it this way:

God is spirit,
and those who worship
must worship in spirit and truth. (St. John 4:24)

…and St. Paul words it as:

…I want to make it quite clear to you that no one who says ‘A curse on Jesus’ can be speaking in the Spirit of God, and nobody is able to say, ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:3)

Maran atha!

Angel