Understanding the Role of the Holy Spirit in Our Lives

Summary of a Fr. Gerry Creedon homily from Pentecost, May 15, 2005

"Lord, send out your spirit, and renew the face of the earth" Ps. 104, 30

WHEN MANY OF GREW UP, we referred to the third person of the Blessed Trinity as "The Holy Ghost." There was also something ghost like about our relationship. We rarely called on the Holy Ghost, except in frantic moments before exams when we needed rescue and illumination. The change in name signals a deepening understanding of the role of the Spirit in the life of the church.

Let us take a look at some of the functions of the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit is LIFE-GIVING. In Hebrew 'Ruach Jahweh" literally means the breath of God. In today's gospel Jesus breathes on the disciples. This action recalls the action of the Creator in Genesis. The breath of God enlivens us to recreate the face of the earth.

The Spirit is PROPHETIC. The tongues of fire mark us as truthsayers. Prophets are not primarily seers who predict the future, they are guardians of the covenant unafraid to denounce its violation when injustice and deceit stalk the land. They are the whistleblowers who risk their own careers to announce the awkward facts.

The Spirit EMPOWERS. At Confirmation and Ordination we are anointed as a priestly people. The chrism is the oil of power. We are empowered with the seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel , fortitude, knowledge , piety and the fear of the lord. These capacities strengthen us for a variety of ministries. The work of Jesus is continued. In his words, "In the Spirit , you will do far greater things than I".

The Spirit UNIFIES. Medes, Elamites, Jews and Arabs "Hear them speaking in their own tongues of the mighty acts of God". Uniqueness and particularity are not blurred in homogeneity. This is not a uniformity that would fill every corner of the world with a MacDonald's replica. As each glass in a mosaic keeps its form and hue yet forms a greater harmonious beauty, so the Spirit gently and respectfully shapes unity in diversity. Our church's unity is guaranteed less by doctrine and rules than by the centering action of the Spirit.

The Spirit brings JOY. One of the blessings of the charismatic movement for main-line churches such as ours is the gift of spontaneity. More and more Catholics are becoming comfortable praying in their own words. After the formal grace before meals our table blessings can include our own words of thanks and petition. Our relationship with Christ may go beyond the speeches we reserve for dignitaries to the familiar words exchanged by friends. Our liturgies gradually become celebrations as we remember that "The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord." Joy, as someone said, is the infallible sign of the presence of God.

The Spirit DWELLS WITHIN US. In the spirit we become the Body of the Risen Lord in the world. "For in one Spirit we are all baptized into one body." We live in the time between Ascension and the Parousia, the end time. We are the best sign Jesus left humanity of his ongoing presence.

Let us feel the Spirit, live the Spirit, be the Spirit!