by Brandon Jubar

For years I had said these words. But never with the sincerity nor the conviction with which I said them at that moment.

I looked into the eyes of this born-again Christian guitar player, and I "explained" to him what I believed.

"We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the prophets."

Spirit Move Me

As Catholics, the first sacrament of our faith is that of Baptism. It is through this sacrament that the Holy Spirit first touches us. And it is through our Baptism that a flame is kindled inside of us. A flame that will grow into a roaring blaze as we come to know our Lord, Jesus Christ.

But how do we come to know Christ? We come to know him through the Holy Spirit. For it is the Spirit that dwells among us and inside of us. It is the Spirit that grants us a clearer vision and allows us to see with our eyes of faith. Without the guidance of the Spirit, we would be lost. It is only through the Spirit that we are able to find Jesus.

"No one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except by the Holy Spirit." 1 Corinthians 12:3

The First, the Last

It is interesting that the Holy Spirit is the first of the Trinity to truly touch our lives in a personal way, through the sacrament of Baptism. And yet it is the Holy Spirit that is actually revealed to us last.

The Holy Spirit must help us to know Christ. And Christ must be with us in order for us to know the Father. Once we know the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit is then revealed to us. His presence is very real, and we know him from the Scriptures he inspired; from the sacred Traditions he helped pass down; from the Magisterium, which he assists; and during our personal prayer, where he intercedes for us.

It is important to note that, as Catholics, we strongly believe that the Holy Spirit inspired the writing of the Scriptures. However, we do not ascribe to the "dictation" theory.

The Catholic Church does not believe that the authors of the Bible simply wrote down verbatim that which was told to them by God. We believe that the Bible, the Word of God, holds universal truths, and yet those truths are so much more than the mere face value of the words.

That is why the direction of the Magisterium is so important to us. The Holy Spirit assists the leaders of the Catholic Church in identifying God's will. For "no one comprehends what is truly God's [will] except the Spirit of God." 1 Corinthians 1:11

A Little Teamwork

Christ and the Holy Spirit have a joint mission, though that mission remains hidden. And though the only member of the Holy Trinity to be physically seen is Christ, it was only through the Holy Spirit that that was made possible.

Christ and the Holy Spirit are distinct yet inseparable. If Jesus is God's Word made flesh, then the Holy Spirit is His breath. And since Christ has ascended into heaven, it is the Holy Spirit whom he sends forth to those who call upon his name. "And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' " Galatians 4:6

The Holy Spirit is probably the most misunderstand aspect of the Triune God, and yet he is of utmost importance to the Church. For it is the Spirit who is present to us here on earth, and it his guidance that will lead us to the Father through Christ.

Life Applications:

What is your understanding of the Holy Spirit?

What images come to mind when you think about the Holy Spirit?

How do you pray? Do you think that the Holy Spirit intercedes for you?

Copyright 2002 by Brandon Jubar
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