Wednesday, April 27, 2022

The Holy Spirit and We...

WORD 2day: Thursday, 2nd week of Easter

April 28, 2022: Acts 5: 27-33; John 3: 31-36


The presence of the Spirit and witnessing to the Lord, are two very closely knit phenomena. The Word brings out powerfully today. If we have to witness to the salvation that we have experienced in the Lord - firstly, it is possible only with the Spirit: for no one can proclaim that Jesus is Lord except through the Spirit. And it is the Spirit that makes the witness efficacious.

Secondly, the presence of the Spirit is desired and felt only by those who are passionate about witnessing to the Risen Lord! The more passionate a person is about witnessing, the more filled with the Spirit is he or she and that is seen and experienced by the world around. What matters here is the heart, the readiness, the willingness and the eagerness to witness to the Lord. The disciples in their fear and trembling after the crucifixion had to be prepared, before they could receive the Spirit - the preparation was the increase of their readiness and willingness to witness to the Risen Lord. 

When we submit to the Lord, the Father fills us with the Spirit says Jesus today in the Gospel... and that is what is needed utmost in our lives. It is happily surprising to see the way the Apostles looked at, understood and related with the Spirit: They were comfortable enough to say, "We and the Holy Spirit" are witnesses to these things! For them the Spirit was someone who lived with them, within them!

Today, our Christian witness would go a long way in bringing the Lord to the people and bringing the people to the Lord, if the Spirit becomes our constant life companion! Are we in as much communion with the Spirit to say, "the Holy Spirit and we..."?