Deacon Tom Writes,
Since the Beginning of Time
Mass During the Day
Christ’s gift of the Holy Spirit to his disciples that we celebrate in today’s Feast of Pentecost completes Christ’s Paschal Mystery. The Trinity is completely revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus’ ascension into heaven that we celebrated last week marks the completion of Jesus ministry here on earth. With Pentecost we celebrate the dawning of a new era as the Church is born and receives the Holy Spirit to guide and testify to all the truth Jesus taught during his ministry.
The Holy Spirit began his mission within the church on that first Pentecost, but it is not as if the Spirit of God has been sitting on the sidelines with nothing to do up until then. Since the beginning of time the Holy Spirit has been busy at work in our world. The invisible hand, so to speak, continuing the work of creation and the guiding wisdom moving the cosmos to its fulfillment in Christ.
In the opening words of the Book of Genesis we find a “Mighty Wind", that is, the Holy Spirit, sweeping over the formless wasteland, bringing order out of chaos, generating the creative process that formed the universe and filled our world with life.
In Genesis 1:26 the Spirit gives life to the dust from which we are all made and shares his very divine image with us as is written, “ Let us make man in our image and likeness”.
In the Book of Wisdom the Holy Spirit is personified as wisdom itself. In Wisdom 9:9 we read, "Now with you is Wisdom, who knows your works and was present when you made the world; Who understands what is pleasing in your eyes and what is conformable with your commands”. Verse 11 continues… “For she (Wisdom) knows and understands all things, and will guide me discreetly in my affairs and safeguard me by her glory”.
The Holy Spirit is the Wisdom of God that is evident in all creation. We know from all of our teachings that God is faithful to his promises, and he has promised to send his Spirit to all who ask him to do so. And so, we wait for the Holy Spirit to continue the work Jesus told us the Spirit of God would do when he arrives... "But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming" (John 16:13). And so, on this Pentecost, at this time when people around our world are in such dire straits and in such need of God's Truth, it is fitting to raise our minds and hearts and voices to invite the Holy Spirit into our lives to guide and protect us and to give us and those who rule over us the Wisdom of God by praying:
Come Holy Spirit,
Fill the Hearts of your faithful
And kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit
And they shall be created
And You shall renew the face of the earth.
O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit
Did instruct the hearts of the faithful,
Grant that by the same Holy Spirit
We may be made truly wise
And rejoice in his consolation
Through Christ, Our Lord,
Amen
Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom
Image Credit: 26120210_hand_holding_earth: elements-furnished-by-nasa_ on_123rf_com
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