What Part of Me Still Resists the Holy Spirit?

A Reflection on Resistance, Surrender, and the New Song of Love

“You stiff-necked people… you always oppose the Holy Spirit.”
— Acts 7:51

That line hits hard. And it should.

Stephen’s words, directed to the elders and scribes in the Book of Acts, were not the result of anger or personal frustration. They were a Spirit-filled diagnosis of a deeper problem — spiritual resistance. And that same resistance is alive today, not just in religious institutions or secular culture, but quietly, even comfortably, within our own hearts.

When Our Religion Becomes a Wall Instead of a Window

Stephen wasn’t confronting pagans or enemies of God. He was addressing religious leaders — people who were experts in the law, traditions, and history of Israel. They knew the Scriptures, but they couldn’t see the Messiah standing before them in the Church’s first martyr. Their minds were trained in doctrine, but their hearts were closed to divine interruption.

In modern terms, they preferred the comfort of certainty over the discomfort of conversion.

We do the same when we cling to the way things have always been, even when the Spirit is inviting us to something new. Whether it’s through a difficult relationship, a moral call, or a needed change in lifestyle, God still speaks. The question is: Are we covering our ears?

“They cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him.”
— Acts 7:57

Stephen’s Witness: Forgiveness as the New Song

Stephen’s death is not a tragedy. It’s a triumph. While he is being stoned, he sees “the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” And even as his life is ending, he imitates Jesus perfectly:

“Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
— Acts 7:60

This is not just a moral example. It is a liturgical act — the offering of his life in union with Christ’s. His dying breath is a song of love.

Are We Hungry for the Wrong Bread?

The Gospel of John introduces a different kind of hunger:

“What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you?”
— John 6:30

The people ask Jesus for proof. They remind Him that their ancestors received manna in the desert. But Jesus shifts the focus:

“It was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread… I am the bread of life.”
— John 6:32, 35

This is a radical claim. The crowd wants divine assistance. Jesus offers divine presence. Not a miracle. A meal. Not sustenance. A Person.

And the offer remains: “Whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” But how many of us are still spiritually starving, even with full stomachs and packed schedules?

Saint Augustine and the New Song of Love

In a powerful sermon, Saint Augustine explains what the Christian life should look like:

“A song is a thing of joy… more profoundly, it is a thing of love.
Anyone who has learned to love the new life has learned to sing a new song.”
(Sermo 34)

But this isn’t about emotional worship music. The “new song” Augustine refers to is a life that has been transformed by love. It’s the life of someone who doesn’t just sing with lips, but with conduct, sacrifice, and surrender.

“If you want to praise God, live what you express.
Do you want to possess God? Love Him — because you couldn’t love Him if He didn’t already dwell within you.”

What’s Holding You Back?

Saint Augustine reminds us that we don’t generate love for God on our own.

“The love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.”
— Romans 5:5

So why do we still resist?

Because surrender is scary. Because we’ve learned to love our cravings. Because we’ve grown comfortable with spiritual control. But the call remains. Jesus, the Bread of Life, offers Himself. The Spirit invites us to open our hearts. And the Church, through the voices of Stephen and Augustine, challenges us to live a song that is truly new.

The Hard Question That Can Change Everything

So here it is, the question worth more than a passing thought. Worth a retreat. Worth a conversion.

What part of me still resists the Spirit, hungers for what doesn’t satisfy, or fears surrendering to God’s plan?

It’s not meant to crush you. It’s meant to open your ears again.
To help you stop running.
To teach you to sing.

Want to Sing the New Song?

Start by receiving the Bread of Life.
Let the Spirit confront what’s stuck in you.
Forgive someone who doesn’t deserve it.
Say yes to what you’ve been postponing.
And most of all: live what you believe.

Then, as Augustine says, “you yourselves will be His praise.”