There’s a popular TV show on American television now—on PBS, no less—called Downton Abbey, and that’s a bit surprising to me, since we Americans always seem to be gripped, at least in our rhetoric, with the notion of egalitarianism: we’re all equal. But this popular show is all about the clear stratification of classes and the drama of etiquette and class. In that society, a violation of what’s acceptable can be an unforgivable mistake that scars your reputation for a lifetime. “What!? He didn’t extend his pinky when holding his teacup? Unforgivable!”

It’s amazing what passes for unforgivable in human societies. In some societies it’s unforgivable to marry outside your caste. In some places it’s unforgivable to violate the unspoken oath of your clan or your family. Why, growing up, my father found it absolutely unforgivable for [us] boys to wear red and black together, since those were the uniform colors of a team that he hated. Today it also seems unforgivable to speak out against falling moral standards and support the standards that the Church has declared for centuries. Speaking out about this can get you fired from your job or, in some countries, arrested for hate speech. Imagine: in a nation with a first amendment that disagreeable speech is made illegal!

Of course, there are other behaviors that seem to be unforgivable as well. As a former police officer, I can tell you it really is true that even in prison among hardened criminals, someone who violated a child has to be sequestered away from the general population just to keep that person alive inside prison. That’s considered unforgivable.

The whole concept of something being unforgivable rests in the community conscience of priorities and decorum, and those priorities and decorum are formed from the basic ideology of a society. I wonder what an ideology that takes the person of Jesus Christ seriously would look like. One day it would be great to see that, wouldn’t it?

In today’s gospel lesson, our Lord Jesus talks about something unforgivable. In Luke 12:8-12:

The Lord said to his disciples, “Everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but he who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of man will be forgiven, but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious how or what you are to answer for what you are to say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

The Lord declares that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. The English word “blasphemy” comes from two Koine Greek words that mean “to injure reputation.” So why does the Lord set blasphemy against the Holy Spirit as unforgivable? Well, let’s broaden our thinking here and consider what it is that the Holy Spirit that the Lord promised will do in his ministry in the earth. First, the Holy Spirit is going to draw people to Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit will be that voice that whispers in our souls when we’re on the wrong path. The Holy Spirit will lead the Church into all truth.

The ministry of the Holy Spirit will empower the people of God to carry out his last will and testament, to be witnesses to his Gospel in all the earth. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential to our very lives as serious Orthodox Christians. His intimate and active presence in our lives must be cultivated and depended upon if we’re really serious about practicing the Orthodox faith. St. Seraphim of Sarov declares clearly: “Acquire the Holy Spirit, and a thousand around you will find their salvation.”

To denigrate the Holy Spirit, to dismiss the Holy Spirit, to insult the Holy Spirit reveals a person whose heart is closed by choice to the leading of the Holy Spirit. It isn’t that this or that action makes God so angry that he won’t forgive you; that’s ridiculous. It’s a ridiculous notion that makes my behavior more powerful than God’s love—and that is impossible. But God loves me so much that he chooses out of his freedom to not violate my will and force me to return his love. So a heart so contemptuous of the work of the Holy Spirit simply refuses the forgiveness offered and places himself in an unforgivable place. The sentence of unforgivability is always self-imposed. Hell, it turns out, is truly locked from the inside.

Today, are you aware and open to the active and intimate presence of God in your life? Are you cultivating a sensitivity to his love, guidance, wisdom, and affection in your daily life? All the rhythm of the faith—her disciplines, her prayers, her liturgies—are all meant to increase your sensitivity and cooperation with the constant work of the Holy Spirit to transform you into someone who is like Christ. Only this work will adequately prepare you to enjoy God’s unfiltered presence forever. Only this activity and free choice made by your willing heart will provide your soul with the peace and the grace to be what you were made to be. Only this lifestyle will be Orthodox on purpose.

No wonder the Church teaches us to pray. And why not stop and pray this prayer with me:

Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who is everywhere present and filling all things, Treasury of good gifts and Giver of life, come and abide in us. Cleanse us from all sin, and save our souls, O Good One. Amen.