Living a Spirit-Energised Faith

Reflections from Fr Richard Healey’s Homily on Deuteronomy and the Good Samaritan

As a priest, I often find that the simplest childhood memories can illuminate profound spiritual truths. In a recent homily, I shared a story from my own childhood: the excitement of receiving a toy electric car for Christmas, only to discover it was lifeless without batteries. My father, ever prepared, had anticipated this and provided the batteries, bringing the toy to life. This memory, though ordinary, offers a powerful metaphor for our spiritual journey as Christians.

In this post, I want to unpack the main themes from that reflection, drawing on the Scriptures and the wisdom of the Church. My hope is to guide you, as listeners and fellow disciples, into a deeper understanding of what it means to live a faith that is truly “batteries included”—a life energised by the Holy Spirit, marked by compassion, and rooted in the nearness of God.

The Toy Car and the Spiritual Life: Why We Need “Batteries Included”

The Metaphor Explained

• The Toy Car: Represents our lives—full of potential, designed for movement and purpose.
• The Batteries: Symbolise the spiritual energy and life that comes from God. Without this, we remain static, unable to fulfil our calling.

Key Insight:

Many of us try to “run” on our own strength, or we let our spiritual batteries run down. We might look the part—attending Mass, saying the right prayers—but without the living presence of God’s Spirit, our faith can become routine, even lifeless.

Actionable Advice:

• Regularly assess your spiritual “charge.” Are you running on empty? What practices help you reconnect with God’s life-giving presence?
• Make space for prayer, silence, and the sacraments. These are the “charging stations” for our souls.

God’s Nearness: Lessons from Deuteronomy

Moses’ Final Words

In Deuteronomy 30-34, Moses stands on the threshold of the Promised Land. He knows he will not enter, but he urges the Israelites to remember that God is not distant. God’s word is “very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.”

Nuances to Consider:

• Accessibility of God: God is not hidden or remote. The divine presence is accessible, inviting us into relationship.
• Responsibility: With nearness comes the call to respond—to choose life, to walk in God’s ways.

Actionable Advice:

• Reflect on how you experience God’s nearness. Is it through Scripture, community, or acts of service?
• When you feel distant from God, return to the basics: read the daily readings, attend Mass, or simply sit in God’s presence.

Jesus: The Fulfilment of God’s Promise

Christ as Our Source of Life

St Paul, writing to the Colossians, reminds us that in Jesus, all of God’s promises are fulfilled. Jesus is the “batteries included” for the Church—He pours out the Holy Spirit, empowering us to live as God’s people.

Nuances to Consider:

• The Holy Spirit: Not just a vague force, but the very life of God within us, animating our love, compassion, and service.
• The Church’s Mission: We are not called to be a museum of saints, but a hospital for sinners—energised to bring healing and hope.

Actionable Advice:

• Invite the Holy Spirit into your daily life. A simple prayer: “Come, Holy Spirit, fill my heart and kindle in me the fire of your love.”
• Look for ways your parish can be more “batteries included”—offering practical help, hospitality, and spiritual nourishment to all.

The Good Samaritan: Who Is My Neighbour?

The Lawyer’s Question

In Luke’s Gospel, a lawyer asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbour?” Jesus responds with the parable of the Good Samaritan—a story that upends expectations and challenges narrow definitions of love.

Key Insights:

• Neighbour is Not Defined by Proximity or Similarity: The Samaritan, an outsider, becomes the true neighbour by showing compassion.
• Religious Duty vs. Compassion: The priest and Levite pass by, perhaps out of concern for ritual purity. The Samaritan acts, moved by mercy.

Actionable Advice:

• Examine your own boundaries. Who do you find it hardest to love? Where are you tempted to “pass by on the other side”?
• Practise concrete acts of mercy: visit the sick, support the poor, welcome the stranger.

Identifying with the Wounded Traveller

A Humbling Perspective

It’s tempting to see ourselves as the Good Samaritan, but often we are the wounded traveller—hurt, vulnerable, in need of care. Recognising our own wounds opens us to receive God’s healing and the kindness of others.

Nuances to Consider:

• Receiving as Well as Giving: True Christian community involves both offering and accepting help.
• Symbols of Healing: The Samaritan uses oil and wine—ancient symbols of healing and comfort. Today, this might be a listening ear, a meal, or a word of encouragement.

Actionable Advice:

• Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s the soil where compassion grows.
• Be attentive to those who are “wounded” in your community—those who are lonely, grieving, or struggling.

Becoming a “Batteries Included” Church

The Call to Transformation

The Church is called to be a community energised by the Holy Spirit—alive with compassion, justice, and love for the most vulnerable. This is not a one-time event, but a continual process of being recharged and renewed.

Key Practices:

• Prayer and Sacraments: The Eucharist, Reconciliation, and daily prayer are essential sources of spiritual energy.
• Community Life: Small groups, service projects, and shared meals build bonds of love and support.
• Mission: Our faith is not just for ourselves, but for the world. We are sent to be Christ’s hands and feet.

Actionable Advice:

• Encourage your parish to be a place of welcome and healing. Are there ministries for the poor, the sick, the lonely?
• Regularly pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit on your community.

A Prayer for Spiritual Renewal

Let us pray:
Lord, recharge our spiritual batteries. Fill us with your Holy Spirit, that we may be the Church you call us to be—compassionate, courageous, and alive with your love. Help us to see our neighbours with your eyes, to serve with your hands, and to love with your heart. Amen.

Final Thoughts

Living a “batteries included” faith is not about striving harder, but about opening ourselves to the life and power God freely offers. As we draw near to God, we find ourselves energised to love, to serve, and to build a Church that truly reflects the compassion of Christ. May we, as individuals and as a community, be ever more alive with the Spirit—ready to bring God’s healing and hope to a world in need.

If this reflection has resonated with you, I invite you to share it with your parish, your family, or your friends. Let’s continue to encourage one another to live lives fully charged by the love and presence of God.