With Pentecost coming this Sunday I thought I would put forth a little primer on what some find to be the most challenging aspect of the Trinity to comprehend: The Holy Spirit!
Q: What is the Holy Spirit?
A: The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity, God at work in the world and in the Church even now.
Q: How is the Holy Spirit revealed in the Old Covenant?
A: The Holy Spirit is revealed in the Old Covenant as the giver of life, the One who spoke through the prophets.
Q: How is the Holy Spirit revealed in the New Covenant?
A: The Holy Spirit is revealed as the Lord who leads us into all truth and enables us to grow in the likeness of Christ.
Q: How do we recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives?
A: We recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit when we confess Jesus Christ as Lord and are brought into love and harmony with God, with ourselves, with our neighbors, and with all creation.
An Outline of the Faith—commonly called the Catechism •
So how are you recognizing the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life? For me, I experience it at Baptisms, Confirmations, Receptions, Affirmations, and Ordinations; during inspiring hymnody; in spirited conversations with inquisitive youth and wise elders; in Sammy’s Eatery and in the ECMN Gathering Space; at youth gatherings and camps; in deep discerning conversations; in innovative, creative conversations with your Missioners; when people show deep empathy, compassion, care for others—especially when they do not know them; and I experience it when people are invited to share their story, their truth, and the places they recognize the Holy Spirit in their own lives.
My invitation for us during this upcoming Pentecost season is not only to be acutely aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives but to invite others to share where they are experiencing the Holy Spirit as well.
Source: Bishop Brian Prior – Considering the Holy Spirit