Regrettable to say, I find it difficult to explain the Holy Spirit to even Christians. God the Father is the white-beard old man in heaven. He created everything in heavens and on earth. Jesus Christ, who is God the Son, is the easiest to understand because we think we are familiar with his story. The Holy Spirit is different. When Jesus was baptized, it appeared as a dove (Mark 1:10). When Pentecost came, it descended in tongues of fire (Acts 2:3). The Holy Spirit does not have a fixed appearance. It is very elusive. When Nicodemus visited Jesus at night to learn more about his teaching, Jesus made the following remark.
The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit (John 3:8).
In Greek, "wind" and "spirit" is the same word πνεῦμα! Therefore, the above verse can be translated as
"The Spirit goes where it wills ...; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit."
The Holy Spirit is indeed elusive. Yet, we are able to discern its presence.
The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit (John 3:8).
In Greek, "wind" and "spirit" is the same word πνεῦμα! Therefore, the above verse can be translated as
"The Spirit goes where it wills ...; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit."
The Holy Spirit is indeed elusive. Yet, we are able to discern its presence.
Fr. Martin celebrated the youth mass this morning. He told us a story to show the presence of the Holy Spirit. He wanted us to keep our minds open to the Spirit.
One day, a Catholic took a taxi. She was carrying a large basket. In the taxi, she saw an old knapsack behind the driver's seat. Perhaps a previous passenger had left it there. Suddenly, greed emerged in her mind. "What if I put the knapsack into my basket. The driver would not notice it. Nobody would ..." She kept her eyes on the taxi-driver intensely. The driver was attending to the traffic on the road. When she slowly acting out her intention, the driver suddenly slowed down! "Oh my God! Does he notice?" No. the driver slowed down because an old man was crossing the road. The driver only gave way. The lady immediately woke up from her greed. She was ashamed. When she got off the taxi, she could not hold herself anymore. She asked the driver if he knew that there was an old knapsack behind his seat. The driver replied, "Thank you, lady. It is only a knapsack of rubbish. I intend to throw it away after you alight."
Fr. Martin said that the Holy Spirit did not teach the lady with words, nor with rods but with an old man crossing the road!
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you(John 14:26).
We will not be able to see the Holy Spirit, but we will discern its presence when it comes to us.
One day, a Catholic took a taxi. She was carrying a large basket. In the taxi, she saw an old knapsack behind the driver's seat. Perhaps a previous passenger had left it there. Suddenly, greed emerged in her mind. "What if I put the knapsack into my basket. The driver would not notice it. Nobody would ..." She kept her eyes on the taxi-driver intensely. The driver was attending to the traffic on the road. When she slowly acting out her intention, the driver suddenly slowed down! "Oh my God! Does he notice?" No. the driver slowed down because an old man was crossing the road. The driver only gave way. The lady immediately woke up from her greed. She was ashamed. When she got off the taxi, she could not hold herself anymore. She asked the driver if he knew that there was an old knapsack behind his seat. The driver replied, "Thank you, lady. It is only a knapsack of rubbish. I intend to throw it away after you alight."
Fr. Martin said that the Holy Spirit did not teach the lady with words, nor with rods but with an old man crossing the road!
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you(John 14:26).
We will not be able to see the Holy Spirit, but we will discern its presence when it comes to us.
Dear Lord, not only does Your Spirit teach. It also moves us. May the Holy Spirit empower us to sanctify the world. Amen.
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