May 1980
"If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."
(Romans 8:11–17)
The Spirit of God
We easily forget the Holy Spirit. We know the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ. He is the model we try to follow. The Holy Spirit, by contrast, seems silent and inactive; we do not know him. Jesus speaks, sleeps, eats, heals; we see him living in the Gospel. But the Holy Spirit remains invisible.
Yet Jesus does nothing without the Holy Spirit, always present. Jesus is conceived by the Holy Spirit; from the first moment the Spirit dwells in Jesus and makes him the Son of God. Throughout his earthly life, Jesus manifests the action of the Holy Spirit within him. His miracles, his power, his word—all prove that the Holy Spirit abides in him.
For the Spirit to be poured out and recognized, Jesus had to depart. Then the Christians understood who the Holy Spirit is and that he is sent by Jesus. He will give Christians understanding of the Word and the strength to face every difficulty.
In the Acts of the Apostles we see the Holy Spirit at work: there are wonders like healings or the heroic courage of the disciples, but also conversions and the forgiveness of sins.
The Church lives by the Holy Spirit, who is her soul and her breath. He gives her growth and guides her "into all truth" through the conflicts that threaten her very existence. The Spirit is our strength. When we are overwhelmed by suffering and hardship, when we are tempted to abandon everything, the Spirit dwells in us. If we welcome him, he will restore our strength—not only for ourselves, but for others too, because we are all members of the Body of Christ, and each member has his or her special importance. The Holy Spirit is present in the most handicapped person and speaks to us in his silence. He is present in our Faith and Light communities to awaken our strength, to give us joy, and to make our light shine in the darkness.
Jørgen Hviid – (International Chaplain of Faith and Light)
Suggestions for Reflection
- It is Pentecost season. Let us search together for signs of the Holy Spirit's action in the Acts of the Apostles.
- How has the Spirit worked in our Faith and Light community?
- What is our personal relationship with the Holy Spirit? What do we know of him?
- Are there members in our community who have not been confirmed? Why?