THE HOLY SPIRIT
Today is Pentecost Sunday. The term Pentecost comes from the Greek (Pentēkostē) meaning “fiftieth”. It refers to the festival celebrated on the fiftieth day after Passover. In the New Testament, it refers to the fiftieth day after the Lord’s resurrection. So, today is the fiftieth day after Easter. It marks the end of the Easter Season and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles.
The Holy Spirit dwells in believers 1 Cor. 3:16 says; “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” Are you conscious of the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life? If our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit it means that we are not at liberty to use our body anyhow. We cannot just begin to pierce or design our bodies the way we like; we cannot market our bodies as though it was a commodity. 1 Cor. 6:19-20 puts it clearly, Paul says; “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.”
The Holy Spirit gives us spiritual gifts. 1 Cor.12:7-11 mentions the various gifts of the Holy Spirit . They are categorized as follows wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. The particular way in which the Spirit is given to each person is for a good purpose. We are given the Spirit for the building up of God’s kingdom.
On the other hand, praying in tongues is primarily a gift for prayer. The first reading says that they spoke in tongues when the Holy Spirit came down upon them. When we pray in tongues, the Holy Spirit speaks directly to God through us, even if we ourselves don’t understand what we are saying. Nevertheless, whether speaking or praying in tongues, the Catechism of the Catholic Church No. 2003 teaches that the gift of tongues is one of the SPECIAL GRACES or “CHARISMS” of the Holy Spirit: “Whatever their character – sometimes it is extraordinary, such as the gift of miracles. But it is oriented toward sanctifying grace and are intended for the common good of the Church.”
The Holy Spirit produces fruits in us. These fruits are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal.5:22-23). Of what relevance is the charism of tongues if we cannot love? (1Cor.13:1). Why are the gifts desired and emphasized over the fruits of the Spirits today? We want to perform miracle but not ready to be kind and patient.
The Holy Spirit is the perfect Spirit, he is never rude, haughty or rebellious. Today we have so many ministers with rebellious and roudy characters what kind of spirit have they received? The handsome brother that is always ‘blasting’ in tongues yet disobedient what kind of spirit has he received? How do we reflect the Holy Spirit in our dealings?
The Holy Spirit teaches and reminds us the truth about Christ and salvation. In John 14:26 Jesus told his disciples, “the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” Are we willing to learn?
The first reading tells us how the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles and immediately they went out to preach in many languages. The Holy Spirit gives us power to become witnesses and good preachers in various tongues and cultures. Acts 1:8 says “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Without the Holy Spirit we cannot witness to God neither can we manifest power. A Christian without the Holy Spirit is like a flat tyre, no movement no balance.
The Holy Spirit is symbolized by wind. The element of wind is from the Greek word (pneuma). It also means breath. Wind has peculiar significance in Scriptures. In 2 Sam.22:11 the Bible says the Lord was seen upon the wings of the wind; today’s psalm (Ps 104:3) says the Lord rode on the wings of the wind; verse 4, says he used the wind as his messenger. Ezek1:4 also described the presence of the Lord as in a wind. Just as a man without wind is dead so also a Christian without the Holy Spirit is dead.
The second symbol of the Holy Spirit is fire. The fire in today’s scripture is not a fire that was ignited by any man. If man is not the source of your fire, no man can control your fire or quench your fire. God’s fire is a fire no man can stop. The first reading says in Acts 2:3 divided tongues as of fire appeared among them. Exd.3:2 says the Angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in the flame of fire, in Exd.13:21-22 pillar of fire guided the people at night; Exd 19:18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke for the Lord descended upon it in fire. Heb.12:29 says “our God is a consuming fire”. Fire therefore, symbolizes the presence of God. This fire is also the reason for, passion and enthusiasm, it rejects tepidity. No Christian should be tepid or cold; Christians should approach their duties with passion and enthusiasm. Without fire there is no zeal.
LET US PRAY
O God, Who did instruct the hearts of Thy faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise, and ever to rejoice in His consolation, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
