By Neal Niznan, MSW, LCSW
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.
Let us pray.
O God, who have taught the hearts of the faithful
by the light of the Holy Spirit,
grant that in the same Spirit we may be truly wise
and ever rejoice in his consolation.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The power and magnificence of the Holy Spirit are sometimes overlooked. Regularly praying to the Holy Spirit is a source of strength, guidance and peace. Recognizing the presence of the Spirit in our lives keeps us connected to His healing grace and motivates us to keep Christ the center of our lives.
In the Bible, there are numerous references to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. In Genesis, before the creation of the universe, we see the Spirit of God hovering over the void as a strong wind making order out of chaos. (Genesis 1:2)
Throughout the lives of the great kings and prophets, the Holy Spirit provides wisdom and counsel for the leaders of Israel. “And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.” (Isaiah 11:2)
At the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan, the Holy Spirit, seen as a dove, is witness to the divinity of Jesus. “Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.” (Mark 1: 9-11)
On Pentecost, birthday of the Church, the Apostles received the spirt of God and its power is symbolized as tongues of fire. “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:2-4) From that day forward, the Holy Spirit empowers the Apostles to live the Gospel and to go forth and preach the truth to all nations.
The sacrament of Confirmation seals the gift of the Holy Spirit for a life of faith and service. We fully participate in the fruits of the spirit: Love, joy, peace, patience, knowledge, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22) The Holy Spirit freely pours out these gifts in the lives of those who recognize His presence.
So let us be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Let us realize the wisdom, knowledge and blessings He provides us. Through our prayers to the Holy Spirit for ourselves and others, we ask the Spirit, to “kindle in them the fire of Your love.” That same fire, given to the Apostles at Pentecost, allow us to fully participate in God’s divine plan to bring all things to Christ, renewing the face of the earth.
