THE HOLY SPIRIT OF FREEDOM

PENTECOST SUNDAY


Nowadays people give a lot of thought to spirits, albeit, evil spirits.  There is no dearth of market for horror films.  Books on exorcism and deliverance are on bestseller lists.  Ghost buster groups can be found here and abroad.   Just when we think that the world is steeped in materialism and pragmatism, here comes a renewed interest in the world of the spiritual and invisible realities. 

Many people have come to realize that the worldly is not complete without its form, the spiritual aspect of existence.  How apt is the reminder of St. Paul:  our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the power of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephes. 6:12).

However, as Christians, when we speak of “spirit”, our hearts are first turned towards the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, whose powerful presence guides and sustains the course of our life and history.  And as we celebrate Pentecost today, the great event of the descent of the Holy Spirit in the midst of believers, we rejoice that God poured and continues to pour his Spirit on us who invoke him.

The Holy Spirit is Divine as the Father and the Son.  He is God from the beginning with the Father and the Word, hovering over the chaos and initiating creation into movement. From that moment, the Spirit is given to all God’s sons and daughters to make their lives a foretaste of heavenly glory, re-creating each one to achieve full life.

Take a look at the gospel and imagine listening to the promise of Jesus: “Receive the Holy Spirit.  Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them.” What a promise, what a gift!  When you receive the Holy Spirit, his first effect is the forgiveness of sins! His first effect is freedom from that which oppresses our lives. He re-creates us from the dismal experience of sin and death in our lives.

Evil spirits, whether perceived by those who claim to be most sensitive or gleaned through the manifestations of various evils, remind us only of rebellion, distance, sadness and fear. Its palpable effect is addiction to that which is harmful and destructive; an enslavement to our various addictions.

The Holy Spirit comes to draw us to God’s great plan.  The Holy Spirit is given to free us from the hooks that attach us to the addictions that bring us to danger.  That is the meaning of Jesus’ promise:  whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven.  The Holy Spirit comes to open our hearts to the forgiveness of God so that we can be free.

Everyday, let us yield to the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, and seek to be freed for love, for God.  Let us ask the Holy Spirit each day to shield us from sin and if we fall, to re-create us and restore us to the dignity that is ours through the love of the Father and the Son. Come, Holy Spirit.

p.s.

again, heartfelt thanks to all those who sent greetings of sympathy and assurances of prayers on the passing away of my dear mother  Consuelo on May 17, 2012.  your kind gesture of solidarity is a strong reminder of the true meaning of Christian compassion and fraternal love.  God bless you all!

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