So what, then, DOES God give us to satisfy us and all our doubts? He gives us the Holy Spirit. He MAY, at the appropriate time in Ezra's baptism this morning, give Ezra the Holy Spirit with the sound of a violent wind, and a tongue of fire over his head like at Pentecost....but probably not. Because it is not truly the dramatic ENTRY of the Spirit that erases our doubts; it is the ongoing PRESENCE AND GUIDANCE of the Spirit that erases our doubts. It is the Spirit's pull on us to love Jesus and keep his commandments, that keeps us strong in faith. It is the Spirit's voice in our heads telling us what to say when we have opportunities of evangelizing, that keeps us strong in faith. It is the Spirit's guiding us to pray for others in the community, that keeps us strong in faith. And it is the gifts that the Spirit gives to us, that also make it clear that we ARE God's people, and that God has called us to be a part of his mission. These gifts are not usually dramatic or supernatural. It could be the gifts of producing food, or producing energy, or teaching children, or healing people, or extinguishing fires, or entertaining, or motivating. But these gifts will always be useful in God's plan, and we will always be able to ask Jesus for any other gifts we need in following God's plan.
Like the gifts of being able to hear and understand what people OUTSIDE the church are telling us about God and themselves. Like the gifts of being able to speak the language of people OUTSIDE the church, and relate on the level of friend. Like the gifts of being able to show God's love in ways that are relevant here and now. As the Spirit leads us to ask for THESE gifts, and as Jesus grants them to us, we WILL be satisfied. Because we will know that God's kingdom is progressing, and that we are a part of it.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for sending the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who abides with us forever, and satisfies our doubts. Make us bold to ask for those things you want us to have, and to do those things you want us to do, in Jesus' name. Amen.