Breath

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Breath

Veni Sancte Spiritus

Bestowal   Receive   Renew

Manifestation of the Spirit

Peace

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture: First Corinthians 12:7

To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given to accomplish some good.

Reflection

St. Paul, in his First Letter to the Corinthians, talks about accomplishing good. I think that many of us would say that we are trying to do that on a daily basis. We want to improve the world around us and make it better for our children and grandchildren. 

God knows this about us and sends us the Breath of God to both guide us and renew us when we need extra strength. Even with our best intentions, there are times when we falter. We look around us and feel that the world is not getting any better despite all our efforts. We fail to see the progress that is being made every day.

That Breath of God comes to us when we pray, "Veni Sancte Spiritus"---Come Holy Spirit. God is generous in sharing the Holy Spirit with us. Jesus told us that He would not leave us as orphans. He would send an Advocate to assist us.

The bestowal of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles is indicated twice in the Christian Scriptures. We hear about it on the evening of Easter and on Pentecost Sunday. One bestowal happens directly from Jesus (on Easter Sunday) and the other fulfills the promise of Jesus after His Ascension.

In both instances the Apostles receive a gift. Jesus is very generous and wants to enrich the lives of the Apostles so that they will be able to pass the gifts of the Holy Spirit on to all the followers of Jesus. 

The gifts that the Apostles receive renew their lives and help them to continue the mission of Jesus, to proclaim the Good News to all. We are the beneficiaries of that renewal. The gift of the Holy Spirit, the Breath of God, is poured out on us today.

That renewal helps us to work to accomplish the good for everyone. It gives us the strength to overcome our fears and doubts, our insecurities and anxieties, our lack of confidence and hesitation so that we can work to help our sisters and brothers live rich and meaningful lives as we work together for justice.

Jesus indicates very clearly why He shares the gift of the Holy Spirit with the Apostles and through them with all of us. Jesus wants to bring peace to all. He knows how hard this will be. He knows how frustrating it is when you want to bring peace and people are plotting for war to have more power, control, and wealth. He experienced this firsthand on Good Friday.

Jesus also knows that the Holy Spirit can guide us towards peace. He knows that deep in our hearts we truly want peace. He knows that the Breath of God can renew us and gives us the strength we need to accomplish the good that our world needs.

Take a deep breath. 

Let the Holy Spirit come!

1. How do you try to accomplish good?

2. Do you feel that the world is getting better?

3. How has the Holy Spirit helped you in your life?

4. How does the Holy Spirit help you to work for peace?

5. What do you experience as you contemplate Kathy's photo?

(Scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)