Many Christians do not realize it, but FAITH begins with Holy Spirit. St. Paul wrote to the early Church in Corinth: “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Cor 12:3)
St. Irenaeus, who was bishop of Lyons in 130-202 AD, taught that “it is impossible to see God’s Son without the Spirit, and no one can approach the Father without the Son, for the knowledge of the Father is the Son, and the knowledge of God’s Son is obtained through the Holy Spirit.”
Jesus did not reveal the Holy Spirit fully, until He himself had been glorified through His Death and Resurrection. Nevertheless, little by little He alluded to the Holy Spirit when He spoke to Nicodemus (cf. John 3:5-8), to the Samaritan woman (cf. John 4:10, 14, 23-24) and to those who took part in the feast of Tabernacles (cf. John 7:37-39). To His disciples, He spoke openly of the Holy Spirit in connection with prayer (cf. Luke 11:13) and with the witness they will have to bear (cf. Matthew 10:19-20).
Only when the hour arrived for His glorification did Jesus promise the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of truth, the other Paraclete, will be given by the Father in answer to Jesus’ prayer (cf. John 14:16-17); He will be sent by the Father in Jesus’ name (cf. John 14:26); and Jesus will send Him from the Father’s side, since He comes from the Father (cf. John 15:26). The Holy Spirit will come and we shall know Him; He will be with us forever; He will remain with us; the Holy Spirit will teach us everything, remind us of all that Christ said to us and bear witness to Him; the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth and will glorify Christ; He will prove the world wrong about sin, righteousness, and judgment (cf. John 16:7-15)
At last Jesus’ hour arrived: He commended His spirit into the Father’s hands at the very moment when by His death He conquers death, so that, “raised from the dead by the glory of the Father (Romans 6:4)” He might immediately give the Holy Spirit by “breathing” on His disciples (cf. John 20:22). From that hour onward, the mission of Christ and the Holy Spirit became the mission of the Church: “As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” (John 20:21; cf. Matthew 28:19; cf. Luke 24:47-48; cf. Acts 1:8)
Do you long for God in your life? If so, then invite the Holy Spirit to dwell in your heart each day.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
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.
O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.