Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot understand Jesus. In his life the presence of God’s Spirit, whom we call the Holy Spirit, was manifest in a unique way.
[689-691, 702-731] It was the Holy Spirit who called Jesus to life in the womb of the Virgin Mary (Mt 1:18), endorsed him as God’s beloved Son (Lk 4:16-19), guided him (Mk 1:12) and enlivened him to the end (Jn 19:30). On the Cross, Jesus breathed out his Spirit. After his Resurrection, he bestowed the Holy Spirit on his disciples (Jn 20:22). At that the Spirit of Jesus went over to his Church: “As the Father has sent me, even so I send you” (Jn 20:21).
The Holy Spirit as we Christians believe is part of the Holy Trinity; we sign ourselves in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. But my question to you dear readers is – Do you know the role that the Holy Spirit can play in your lives? We celebrate the feast of the Pentecost signifying the arrival of the Holy Spirit to his apostles and thus begins the birth of the Holy Catholic Church, we should also be aware of the role that this helper the Holy Spirit which God promised to us
1. He guides us into all truth – John 16:13 – the Holy Spirit is our guiding light , he leads us into the truth, and the truth is something so rare in this mundane world, in a world filled with false God’s and promises it is the Holy Spirit that shows us the divine truth that God intended for us.
2. He assures us that we are God ‘s children – Romans 8:16 – during this time of pandemic , we often feel quite alone ,though surrounded by family or isolated, the assurance of the Holy spirit makes us feel that ‘we are not alone’, we as humans being called as children of God is something beautiful – I quote – “God is no stranger to pain. When you cry to Him, He isn’t looking down on you and saying, ‘here we go again’, instead, He’s leaning down feeling every tear of betrayal, anxiety and grief that you are crying and saying,’ I know, I know I remember and I love you’ how wonderful it is to know that we are both loved and understood by an almighty God
3. He gives us hope – Romans 15:13- “The Holy Spirit when we invite him into our wounds, anoints our painful memories with the balm of hope, because the Spirit Restores hope” – Pope Francis. Hope in these troubled times are something that drives us to look beyond our current sufferings with the vision of what God has promised.
4. He strengthens us –Ephesians – 3:16, “the strength provided by the spirit comes from the inside; it’s not just physical strength but a strength which embodies our will, heart and mind, it’s rejuvenation of our inner being”. (Verse 2) Timothy 1:17,” assures us that the spirit of god gives us power, love and self-discipline, these are the elements if inner strength that we need to navigate in this world”.
5. He equips us to serve others – Ephesians 4:11-12; “The Biblical model is that God choses imperfect vessels” – those who have been wounded, those with physical or emotional limitations. Then He prepares them to serve and sends them out with their weakness still evident, so that His strength can be made perfect in that. He does not call the equipped but equipped the called so we ought to believe that our lord does not abandon us when he places a desire to serve others he also equips us through the Holy Spirit.
Call upon the Holy Spirit in your lives, with a simple prayer by St. Augustine:
“Breathe in Me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy”. Amen.