“But I tell you the truth: it is expedient to you that I go: for if I go not, the Paraclete will not come to you.”
From this verse we should ascertain that the Paraclete’s coming is important. The Paraclete does not begin new work, but continues the work that was begun by Christ. Christ’s work is finished as he lowered His head and exclaimed those words from the cross. Despite this we cannot begin to think that there is nothing that is required of us and thus that there is nothing else that we are to do.
From 2 Peter we are told, “He has bestowed on us the precious and very great promises, so that through them you may come to share in the divine nature.” Here we are being invited to enter into the divine nature and live. This is not a passive relationship, but one that we must enter fully into and embrace. Yes, the work of redemption has been completed by Christ, but we are to be animated by the Holy Spirit in order that we may come to live and embrace it.
From the Gospel of Saint John we are told, “The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name- he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” Here we can see that the Holy Spirit has an important role in our life as well as the life of the Church. Despite this role we often push the Holy Spirit to the side thus making the Holy Spirit some abstract reality that does nothing for us.
Many see the sacrament of confirmation as such. They forget what God is doing in their life through the sacrament in favor of a concept of the importance of our adult acceptance of the faith. Rather, confirmation is important for we come to receive the fullness of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It is this Holy Spirit who assists us in our practice of faith, so that we may endure despite the many temptations and trials of this life.
The Holy Spirit is not stirring forth new revelations in the life of the Church that contradict what has been taught by Christ and handed down to the Church. Some act as if doctrine can change just because it would make them feel good in their sin. This is not the role of the Holy Spirt for the Holy Spirit leads us in all truth and continues the work of Christ.
As the Prayer to the Holy Spirit states, “Help us to relish what is right and always rejoice in your consolation.” As we are also told in the Gospel of Saint John, “But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.” We must remain open to such truth no matter how difficult it may be to hear. Let us continue to open ourself up to this gift of the Holy Spirit and always remain open to His promptings which lead us forth in such truth.
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