Written by Sr. Rosemary Finnegan, O.P.
In our gospel reading, Jesus is promising to send the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, to his frightened and bewildered disciples. He’s explaining that it is to their advantage that he leave their physical presence so that the Holy Spirit can be sent to help them continue Christ’s mission. I wonder how much of a consolation that was to them at that moment. They didn’t know who this “Advocate” was, and they would surely miss Jesus. But Jesus knew that being human, he was limited in time and space. The Holy Spirit, His spirit, his Father’s spirit, would be present everywhere for them, guiding and directing them.
May 20, the feast of Pentecost, is less than two shorts weeks away. It’s a time to remember that the Holy Spirit came not only to the early believers in Jerusalem, but also to us, so we celebrate this remarkable gift of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Although we cannot see the Holy Spirit, we long to be attentive to the Spirit’s presence in our lives, ever changing us into the image of Christ. It’s like the story about a little boy who was flying a kite. It was a windy day, and the kite kept going higher and higher. Finally it got so high that it was out of sight. A man passed by and saw the little boy holding onto the string. The man could not see the kite, and he asked the boy, “How do you even know you have a kite up there?” The boy replied, “Because I can feel it.”
Do we feel the presence and pull of the Spirit in our hearts? Perhaps it’s a good time to reflect on what the Holy Spirit means to us.
- First, the Holy Spirit comes gently, in love, and on a mission of good will, mercy, joy and peace.
- Second, The Holy Spirit gives us the mind of Christ and conforms our spirit to be more like Christ’s. St. Paul tells us that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. This is who Christ is, and this is who we are to become.
- Third, the Spirit gives us supernatural boldness. Look what awful suffering Paul and Silas endured in the first reading. Yet, they didn’t complain. Instead, their boldness about their faith made a convert of the jailer. This same Spirit will help us face difficult situations with confidence.
- Lastly, the Holy Spirit calls us into Christian service. God wants us to do service, to evangelize others, and to do it with zeal and enthusiasm. The Holy Spirit enables us to be Christ and to share Christ.
Whatever wisdom, understanding, and love we need is available to us if we simply ask the Holy Spirit. Wouldn’t that be a great way to prepare for Pentecost?
