Pentecost

Before Jesus ascended to heaven he declared to the Apostles that it was for their good and our good that he was leaving this earthly life. He told them that from heaven he would send us the Holy Spirit whom we need more now than the physical presence of Jesus himself.

The mission of Jesus was fully accomplished by his teaching and healing, his Passion, Death and Resurrection, the appointment of the Apostles to lead the spreading of his Good News and the baptising of the people. In his physical presence Jesus could reach only thousands and even among those many misunderstood him, often missing his point altogether.

The Holy Spirit can reach everybody by communicating with the spirit that is in everybody. The Spirit —   said Jesus —   would lead us to the complete truth, would enlighten us, open up our minds and hearts so we could understand the teachings of Jesus; about God the Father, about the Son, about ourselves: who we are and what we are about and why we are here.

The Holy Spirit gives us the gifts that enable us to live a Christian and moral life.

These gifts are: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety & fear of the Lord. Would anyone freely choose to live without these gifts?

When we have succeeded living by these gifts we produce fruits that are:

charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control and chastity.

The work of the Holy Spirit for us is so important and yet so unobtrusive. Most of us take it for granted just like we take our guardian angels for granted. The Spirit does not mind that. As long as we cooperate with him he is happy to help us, guide us and live in us. Let us always listen to our own spirit, our own soul and our own feelings.