Spirit

When Christ died, resurrected and ascended into Heaven, He did not send the second best thing as a backup for Him.  He sent the Person of the Holy Trinity who was equal to Him and to God the Father. 

The Holy Spirit (Corrado Giaquinto)

The Catholic Church is such a special thing…

It is like nothing else int existence for one very special reason – the Holy Spirit…

“Jesus answered to Nicodemus, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.’” (John 3:1-8).When Christ spoke about water and spirit to Nicodemus He was really establishing the role of the Holy Spirit in His Church.

The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Most Blessed Trinity.  And that is important.  You see, the Holy Trinity – God – is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Form a human perspective we cannot truly imagine such a thing.  After all, we humans are used to competing with each other.  We are always trying to establish dominance.  Children rebel against parents and parents judge and berate their children, and in this way, we are all able to make a true mess of things…

And what does that really mean?  Well, it means that we struggle to understand what true parental and filial love is.  That is the Love between God the Father and God the Son.  That love is so perfect and non-competitive that it is EQUAL in every way to the Persons who are loving.

Even when I try to imagine for a moment how that Love must be, I am completely overwhelmed.  Imagine a love so perfect it is EQUAL to me, myself.  Imagine a love never impatient or unkind or judgemental…  Imagine perfect love.

And THAT, is the Holy Spirit.

When Christ died, resurrected and ascended into Heaven, He did not send the second best thing as a backup for Him.  He sent the Person of the Holy Trinity who was equal to Him and to God the Father.  We did not receive (into the Catholic Church) a damaged copy of the Creator of the Universe.  We received the Holy Spirit – equal and powerful in every way to God the Father who created the universe and God the Son who redeemed it.  This protection of the Holy Spirit is not nothing – it is EVERYTHING to the Church…

Saint Josemaría’s spiritual director told him “Make friends with the Holy Spirit. Don't speak: listen to Him…”.  Saint Josemaria later wrote, “Until now I knew that the Holy Spirit was dwelling in my soul to sanctify it, but I hadn't really grasped this truth about his presence. I feel the Holy Spirit's Love within me, and I want to talk to him, to be his friend, to confide in him. I want to facilitate his work of polishing, uprooting, and enkindling. I wouldn't know how to set about it. He will give me strength. He will do everything, if I so want. And I do want! Divine Guest, Master, Light, Guide, Love, may I make you truly welcome inside me and listen to the lessons you teach me. Make me burn with eagerness for you, make me follow you and love you. Resolution: to ‘keep up’, without interruption as far as I can, a loving and docile friendship and conversation with the Holy Spirit.”

And today, I would be grateful for a Grace like that…

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.