This and That:
Holy Spirit: Presents or Presence?
Our Lenten Family Friday series on the Gospel of Luke continues this week by exploring the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus and his disciples. Saint Luke highlights this role of the Holy Spirit more than any other Gospel writer.
We think of God giving us gifts (presents) of the Holy Spirit, but the first gift that God gives us is God’s SELF. This is the Holy Spirit – the very PRESENCE of God
The persons of the Trinity are so much in communion with one another that it seems contrived to talk about them separately.
During Jesus’ life on earth, the Spirit was always present with him, because the Trinity is always in union with one another.
In the Gospel of Luke, the Holy Spirit guides Jesus’ life and mission. Luke is the only Gospel writer who gives us the story of the Annunciation, in which the Holy Spirit overshadows Mary and makes her the mother of the savior. (Lk 1:35). Continuing in that same story, Mary visits her cousin, Elizabeth, who proclaims Mary “blessed among women”. (Lk 1:41) This is the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Similarly, at the Presentation of Jesus in the temple, Simeon and Anna recognize the Messiah through the Spirit’s enlightenment. (Lk 2: 25 – 27)
Later, when Jesus is ready to begin his mission, the Holy Spirit plays an important role in his preparation:
1. Baptism – Holy Spirit confirms Jesus’ identity as the beloved Son of God
(Lk 3: 21-22)
2. Temptation – Jesus is led into the desert where he experiences empowerment against evil. (Lk 4:1)
3. Beginning of Mission – Jesus proclaims the Kingdom of God (Lk 4:14, 18)
Saint Luke wrote a second volume in addition to the Gospel. His second writing was the Acts of the Apostles, which shows the Holy Spirit empowering the beginning and spread of the church and continuing to guide those early disciples.
While we see the Holy Spirit’s role in the life of Jesus and the early church, we need to keep in mind that the Spirit continues to guide believers throughout history, right up to our own time.
It is the Holy Spirit who REVEALS God to us. The Spirit draws us to believe in Jesus and also draws us into relationship with God as our loving parent.
Saint Paul expresses the Christian belief in the Spirit throughout his writings:
➢ “No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor 12:3)
➢ “God had sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba Father’” (Gal 4:6)
Holy Spirit Guides the Church
Just as the Holy Spirit guided the early Church, we believe that dynamic continues in our own time. We are all members of the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit guides the Magisterium, which is our bishops exercising their teaching role. Throughout the history of the Church, the Sense of the Faithful has also guided the church to proclaim what people actually believe.
Holy Spirit Empowers US
In Baptism, the Holy Spirit incorporates us into the Body of Christ and reminds us that we belong! In Confirmation, the Holy Spirit gives us a share in the mission of Jesus and a strong sense that we are sent! In our daily living, the Holy Spirit REMINDS us of what Jesus did, taught, suffered, and experience in Resurrection.
In the experience of individuals, the Holy Spirit relates to each believer:
➢ Holy Spirit quickens my faith in relationship with God/Jesus
➢ Reveals truth/identity about myself
➢ Calls me to mission – with Jesus
➢ Calls me to union with other believers
Luke’s Gospel gives us the promise of Jesus: “When you ask the Father, he will give you the Holy Spirit” (Lk11:13) This is God’s gift to us – God’s self! The purpose of the gift is the same as it was for Jesus. The Holy Spirit kept Jesus in Communion with his Father throughout his life and the Holy Spirit does the same for us.
To conclude, the Holy Spirit does gift us presents (spiritual gifts), all within the context of the greatest Gift – God’s very Presence!
Blessings,
Sr. Mary Therese
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