The reflections for the remainder of this week will be focused upon the upcoming feast of Pentecost.
The living water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of living water, welling up into eternal life. (Jn 4: 7-14)
Did you ever wonder why Jesus would refer to the grace of the Holy Spirit as water? So often we hear or see references to this unique and singular gift of God as a bird or a flame.
Have you ever thought about this: everything we use and we ourselves are dependent upon water? Remember that plants and animals trace there origins to water. From the heavens we feel rain come down upon us. But there is a very interesting insight: the water that falls from the heavens is always the same. Sometimes it is a teeming rain. Other times it is a drizzle. Other times it is part of a hurricane or a tornado. Yet this sameness, this water that falls upon us is able to bring about results that are so very different. St. Cyril of Jerusalem http:an early Church Father reminded us that this water, that doesn't change, produces many different effects. He cited such things as the palm tree and grapes on a vine. Consider what happens to our world economy when there is a drought in produce yielding areas of the world. Water adapts itself to the needs of the creation upon which it falls.
And what is the meaning for us? The Holy Spirit, "whose nature is always the same, simple and individual" provides graces for each of us as he desires regardless of who we are or what we are. The Holy Spirit never changes. He is always the God of the Trinity that showers blessings and graces upon us. Nevertheless his gifts are "many and marvelous" as Cyril wrote.
The graces that come down upon us enabled me to work through my vocation as a priest. For others, like some of you, the graces help you to live your married life vocation. Others among us have become spiritual gurus because of the same Holy Spirit although the graces given to another person may be different in the resulting work of God. Why are some people drawn to working with the poor while others feel drawn to be teachers? Why are some called to be healers while other feel that grace of monastic mysticism?
Some of us the Spirit has made teachers, others parents, others, single persons, others artists, other athletes and so on. This is the "vocation" that is instilled in our hearts and minds by the graces of the Holy Spirit. His action is grace in our lives but it is the same grace but somewhat different for each of us who is so very different from the next person.
Cyril reminds us that the Holy Spirit is a gentle grace from God the Father. He is not a heavy weight put upon us. The impact of the Holy Spirit comes to us either directly or through the impact of another person already gifted by the Spirit's graces.
When we walk out of a theatre in the middle of a bright sunny day, the sunshine makes its impact felt. We can see clearly again. Perhaps if we ever took the time to realize what we see coming from darkness into light, we might realize how we see more clearly than before. So it is with the Holy Spirit. Many times his graces open our eyes to discern as we have never dreamed of seeing before. When we allow the Holy Spirit to gift us with his graces, our world becomes very different.
As we move forward to that great feast of Pentecost, take some time to realize the gift of the Holy Spirit ... especially when it is likened to water.
The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one in a singular way for the good of all.
1 Corinthians 12: 6-7, 27
