Pentecost 1
Acts 2.1-21 : the pouring out of the Holy Spirit
Corinthians 12.3-13 : varieties of gifts of the Spirit in the life of the Church
John 20.19 -23 : the risen Jesus comes to ten of the apostles in the upper room and “breathes on them” the gift of the Holy Spirit.
There are many things that could be written about these passages of Scripture, and many approaches to understanding the Holy Spirit. But I want to choose just one way of reflecting on the work of the Holy Spirit : the one who sets us free.
We find this idea throughout the New Testament. I think particularly of that time when Jesus went to the synagogue in Nazareth, read from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, and announced:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free.” (Luke 4. 16 – 18)
And then in St. John, “when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16.13 ); and “the truth shall set you free” (John 8.32 )
There is no gift greater than the gift of freedom, and without it, life can not be fully human. Yet there are many ways in which we can stumble in our search for freedom.
Many stumble as they seek freedom through the use of drugs, or in a life style which knows no constraints. Quickly they can become the prisoners of their own choices, which finally leave them without a choice. But the gift of the Holy Spirit calls us to be truly free, in a way that enables us to love others without making them our captives, but rather seeking out the divine potential in each person whom we encounter or get to know. As we have been set free ourselves, so we have been entrusted with the mission to bring others to true freedom in Christ, so that they too may set people free, creating “a virtuous circle.” Sometimes we may feel like giving up; human beings by nature are contrary and difficult; but then there are the surprises of life, when just at the point of giving up we discover a dimension to another person’s life that we hardly believed could be present. Sometimes it is the misfortunes of life which enables a person’s soul to shine. They may lose their self-consciousness in caring for others, and so discover themselves at a deeper level.
We read a lot at the moment – or hear it in the media – about how science leads us into all truth, often from those scientists who promote a form of atheism. It is sad that an unnecessary conflict is set up between religion and science. But people who think like this are often the deniers of human freedom, who believe that freedom is just an appearance and a delusion.
Our Christian faith teaches us that we are called to exercise our human freedom and responsibility in our families, communities, and the world beyond. In order to be free, we must believe that we have the capacity for freedom, and for growth in the spirit and in love. If we doubt, well let us look at the beautiful lives of those people of faith who can still inspire us. Many of them are not famous; they do not seek fame, but without them, our lives would be very much poorer. Our lives are shaped by our beliefs in many ways, sometimes at a more profound level than we are aware.
If someone really does not believe that human beings are in any true sense free, already they are living in a kind of prison of the mind. What we meet in life is strangely shaped by our sense of expectation.
This all may sound very theoretical, so I conclude with an example from my own experience. When I was beginning my ministry as a curate in London, on my day off I used to begin the day in church with a eucharist of the Holy Spirit, calling upon the Spirit to enable me to use the day to the full. My day off turned into a wonderful chain of adventures, and sometimes when I went to bed at night I looked back with some amazement at the places I had been to and the people I had met, which I could have never imagined before breakfast ! Praying to the Spirit had set me free, free from myself, to use my imagination and be responsive to the Spirit’s guidance.
In the New Testament, the word for “spirit” and “ wind” are the same : pneuma.
In the Old Testament, the word for “spirit” and “breath” are the same. So these overlapping words ripple out to inform our understanding of the Holy Spirit.
I take delight in the song “Spirit of God, unseen as the wind” which you can find, sung to the Skye Boat song, on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7Qi2O_u1YY
The words are as follows :
“Spirit of God, unseen as the wind, gentle as is the dove,
teach us the truth and help us believe,
show us the Saviour’s love.
You spoke to us long, long ago,
gave us the written word;
we read it still, needing its truth,
through it God’s voice is heard.
Without your help we fail our Lord,
we cannot live his way;
we need your power, we need your strength,
following Christ each day.”
Margaret Old ( 1932 -2001)
And finally, some words from an Orthodox prayer :
“Blessed are You, O Christ our God, who made fishermen all-wise, sending upon them the Holy Spirit and, through them, drawing the world unto yourself. O Loving One, glory to You.”
That sums up our Christian beginnings !
