Here follow some thoughts on the work of the Holy Spirit, prompted by my reflection on today’s gospel about the peace of Christ (John 14:27-31). It’s not uncommon to encounter the idea …
It’s not uncommon to encounter the idea in the Church today that the Holy Spirit is basically “messy”. I’ve heard countless priests and deacons speak of how their basically rambling and undisciplined preaching was the way it was because that is what the Holy Spirit inspired them to say on the spot (!). At some prayer gatherings there will be people allegedly speaking tongues in a free-wheeling way with no one to interpret, while others pass out and some even bark like dogs (!) — and this, too, is attributed to the Spirit. And then some people have implied that worship that is less formal and even freelanced is more “in the Holy Spirit” (!). And so forth. There are many more examples. But suffice to say, all manner of disorder and shabbiness is blamed on the Spirit — by some, at least.
This is not the biblical image of the Spirit, however. In the beginning of the Bible we see that the Spirit is the one who brought order out of chaos: from the “formless void” that initially existed, Creation unfolded in its marvelous (and very orderly) array (Genesis 1:2 and following). In the psalms we hear of how the Spirit is the one who “renews” the earth — doesn’t make it more chaotic, but makes it better (Psalm 104:30). In the gospel, Christ breathes the Spirit onto his Apostles to give them the power to forgive sins — that is, to bring healing and order to souls that until then had been in spiritual squalor (John 20:22-23). And in the Acts of the Apostles — the scene depicted in the engraving at the top of this post — it is the Spirit who not only invigorates the early Church but sends out her Apostles and preachers to bring order and unity in the most diverse of situations: many different languages spoken, people from all different backgrounds, yet now they can understand and receive the gospel message, thanks to the work of the Spirit (Acts 2:4-8).
