Enlightenment

The Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel,
enlightened me with His gifts,
sanctified, and kept me in the true faith.

I spent all last week thinking on this (and didn't get around to posting). We usually think of enlightenment as something with our brains, where reason becomes the authority.

In John 8, Jesus says that He is the light of the world. In John 1, Jesus is described as the light shining in the darkness. The Second Person of the Trinity spoke to Moses from the burning bush. The Second Person of the Trinity was in the pillar of fire that led the Israelites through the wilderness when they left Egypt. He is the Sun of Righteousness that will arise with healing in His wings. As the Apostle John describes the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven, he says that there is no need of sun or moon, for the Lamb is its light.

As Luther expounded on the Creed in the Small Catechism, I don't think he was talking about the Holy Spirit spiffing up my brain so that I catch onto the religious things God wants me to know. Luther wasn't talking about the gifts of the Spirit whopping some "pious reason" into me to trump my "logical reason."

He was talking about laying Jesus on the heart of sinners.

The Holy Spirit enlightened me with His gifts.
He "Jesus-ed" me.
He brought light into my life
by giving me the Light of the World
and uniting me to Him.