That’s the Spirit

And so the yearning strong
with which the soul will long
shall far surpass the power of human telling;
for none can guess its grace
till we become the place
in which the Holy Spirit makes his dwelling.

I recall reading in the 1970s a book by Michael Harper entitled “none can guess” that plotted Michaels spiritual encounter with the Holy Spirit. Michael Harper was an Anglican Priest whoserved on the staff of All Souls, Langham Place, London. Yet from his ministry experience in the west end of London his journey of faith was to make a number of twists and turns. Eventually he left the Church of England and became a cleric in the Orthodox Church.

In John 15:26-16:4 we find Jesus saying to the disciples, "When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning. I have said these things to you to keep you from stumbling. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, an hour is coming when those who kill you will think that by doing so they are offering worship to God. And they will do this because they have not known the Father or me. But I have said these things to you so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you about them. I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you." John 15:26-16:4 

Here the Spirit that God bestows through Jesus on his disciples, will be the one who will comfort and strengthen them in the sometimes difficult days ahead and will guide them in their fuller understanding of what Jesus has taught them. The Spirit will confirm all that Jesus has said and done.

The disciples too, with the help of the same Spirit, are to give witness to all that Jesus has said and done. We are invited to do the same today through the power of the same Spirit who will help “to keep (us) from stumbling”.

I wonder if the disciples had ever guessed where their following would lead them as they listened to Jesus.

Jesus is preparing his disciples, and us, to life after his departure from this world. But he will not leave his followers alone, for he will be sending them the Spirit, his Spirit. The Spirit comes from the Father and from Jesus, the third person of the Holy Trinity, God himself. He is the Spirit of truth, and he will bear witness that Jesus himself is the truth. Through his presence, Jesus’ followers too will give witness to the world of the truth of Jesus’ message.

This does not mean they will not encounter difficulties or persecution, even death, for the sake of witnessing to Jesus. Perhaps we should look at our resistance to suffer for the truth and pray to be given the Spirit that enables us to be a true witness of Jesus. We pray for those who suffer violence and even death for their faith. May they always feel the presence of the Spirit of Jesus in their lives, and may they always feel the solidarity of those who, like us, share their faith.