The story of the gift of the Holy Spirit on Easter
Sunday from the Gospel of John echoes the book of Genesis, just as both books
of the bible begin with the words: “in the beginning.” John on purpose
emphasizes a new creation when he reprises the story of the creation of man.
When God forms adam out of the clay (the eh-duh-mah), he “breathes” into the man’s
nostrils and gives him the nephesh high-yah, the “life giving spirit,”
that creates the human being who is both body and soul. So now we hear in the
Gospel that Jesus breathes life into us – not the biological life that has
been given to us when we were conceived in our mothers’ womb, which is always
with us until death. Rather Jesus breathes into us the fullness of life that is
God Himself – His Holy Spirit. “He breathed on them and said, receive the Holy
Spirit.”
The Spirit is given to us through baptism and Confirmation.
And in Confession and Eucharist, it is renewed in us.
In these sacraments, Jesus breathes life into us.
And all that we heard of the Spirit over the past
fifty days of Easter, and all that we witness of the Holy Spirit in the life of
the saints, all of this is still present in the Church today. Not to say that
the Holy Spirit will manifest itself in the same ways at all times – quite the
contrary, we know that the Holy Spirit in fact is the unifying source of a
great diversity of gifts. But I want to stress that the same Holy Spirit that
has done wonders since the beginning of time in creation, and throughout
salvation history in the Old Testament and New and in these last days between
the two comings of Christ, that same Holy Spirit is the one that is alive and
at work today.
I am sure that for all of us, the Holy Spirit has
greater dreams and desires for ourselves than we can imagine or would dare to
expect.
But in order to bring the Holy Spirit’s plans to
fruition, we must let ourselves be led by the Holy Spirit.
How to Foster Inspirations:
1. Practice Praise and Thanksgiving
2. Desire and Ask for Them (“Holy Spirit, lead me.”)
3. Resolve to Refuse God Nothing
4. Practice Filial and Trusting Obedience
5. Practice Abandonment (letting go of your own
strategies)
6. Practice Detachment (stopping clinging to things,
people, or plans)
7. Practice Silence and Peace
8. Persevere Faithfully in Prayer
9. Examine the Movements of Our Hearts (explore why
you react the way you do)
10. Seek spiritual counsel (Let yourself be led by
trustworthy advice)
DISCERNMENT: DOES THIS CONFORM TO GOD’S LAW? DOES
THIS FIT WITH MY VOCATION?
**These only guarantee a “NO” when we are discerning.
**They are not a “yes”. We can deceive ourselves into thinking that our own
ideas are God’s ideas. That’s why obedience (#4), counsel (#10) and self-denial
(#5, 6, 9) are so important. That is half of the ten tips I gave are focused on
this challenge of discerning between God and not-God.
Look for Good fruit:
peace, joy, charity, communion (true unity), humility, light, clarity,
simplicity. **Not
just in me, but in the whole body of Christ**
The eternal, life-giving Holy Spirit that is God Himself,
that worked in the Church and constantly gives life to the every living thing
in this world, that guides and directs every saint and the work of the church,
this Holy Spirit is present in YOU, and He wants to be the architect of your
life and your future. Let Him guide you so that you may bear abundant fruit.
