He will tell you of the things to come
At my 60th birthday party, when it came time for me to respond to all the wonderful things that were said about me, I made a casual statement that from here on I would dedicate more of my time to evangelizing. Where this comment came from, I do not know. That idea had not occurred to me before that moment.
I remember a friend asking a priest-friend who was also at the party - ‘Do you think Hilary was under the influence of the Spirit when he made that statement?’ ‘Definitely, the question is which spirit’ was his joking reply - referring to the spirits which we were drinking :).
Looking back now nine and a half years later, I can safely answer my priest-friend - it definitely was the influence of the Holy Spirit. It is within those years that I started formation to be a permanent deacon, was ordained, and started evangelizing as a member of the clergy.
So that when I read in this week’s Gospel John 16: 12-15 ‘He will tell you of the things to come.’ I knew the phrase was true. I experienced it.
The Holy Spirit influences us to prophesy—not with grand visions or dramatic proclamations, but with a simple word spoken in faith, a desire planted in the heart, or a casual comment made without full understanding of its weight.
That moment at my 60th birthday, though light-hearted, was a seed sown by the Holy Spirit. At the time, I didn’t grasp its significance, but the Holy Spirit knew the journey ahead. He gently prepares us, speaks through us, and reveals the path as we walk it. Looking back, I see how that single sentence became a turning point—a quiet prophecy of a new mission.
Prophesying is not future-telling in the way we often imagine—predicting events or reading destinies. Rather, it is the courageous act of speaking God’s truth into the present moment. It means allowing the Holy Spirit to use our voice, our actions, even our silence, to reveal something of God’s will, God’s love, or God’s direction—whether for ourselves or for others.
Prophesying may come as a word of encouragement, a call to conversion, a prompting to begin something new, or a gentle challenge to let go of what no longer gives life.
We have no control over the prompting of the Holy Spirit. He is like the wind. He blows where He wills. But if we live a Life in the Spirit, through prayer and the sacraments - we will be more attuned to His movements.
I have been making changes to my pastoral website. One such change is to the online community ‘Conversion and Transformation’. I am now focusing it toward Youth Ministry - equiping persons with the tools to help our youth make good choices in these challenging times. I have in mind - parents, grandparents, persons interested in youth ministry and youth ministering to youth. You can join the community at the following link - Youth Ministry LINK