Gospel of John, chapter 14:2

There’s a story about a Hindu and a Christian who were discussing the merits of Christianity. The Christian explained to the Hindu that his religion was capable of overcoming the selfish attributes of human nature to the extent that a believer could become “a new person.” Upon hearing this, the Hindu exclaimed: “that is only possible if you are given a new Spirit.”

The point of the story is that the Hindu was right. At baptism, Christians are baptized not only with water,but by the Holy Spirit. In other words, they are given a new Spirit. Beginning with baptism, the Holy Spirit should play an active part in the life of every Christian, if they are truly to be called Christian. Baptism is more than the sprinkling of water over the head of a child. It imparts a new Spirit, the Holy Spirit, which helps us overcome the limitations of our human Spirit that is compromised by sin. The Holy Spirit renews the human Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is mentioned ninety times in the New Testament, and only three times in the Old Testament. There is a big dig difference however, in the understanding of the Holy Spirit in both Testament. In the old Testament, the Holy Spirit is not a person, but is described by the word ‘Ruauh; which means ‘breath’ of God. In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is a person: the third person of the blessed Trinity sent by Jesus after His life on earth, to reside within us; to be our guide; and to bring to light what Jesus taught us.

The Holy Spirit does not make Himself present visibly to us the way Jesus was present visibly to His disciples. Although the presence of the Holy Spirit is invisible, the manifestations of the Holy Spirit, however, are visible. Thus the scriptures lists seven spiritual gifts as the workings of the Holy Spirit in the life of Christian. These are ‘wisdom,’ ‘understanding,’ ‘knowledge,’ ‘fortitude,’ ‘piety,’ ‘counsel,’ and ‘the fear of the Lord.’

Jesus insists that we will be known by our fruits just as a good tree bears good fruit. St. Paul, in Galatians 5:22-23 offers nine additional manifestations of the Holy Spirit which he calls, the fruits of the Holy Spirit. These are given to replace the wordly characteristics of the flesh, and are: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control.”

To come back to the conversation between the Hindu and the Christian, the sign that a Christian possess the Holy Spirit is to be found in the visible manifestations of that same Spirit. A Christian who claims to have the Holy Spirit should not be arrogant or boastful about it, but simply show the gifts and fruits of the Spirit by the way he/she lives. The Holy Spirit is given to bring to light what Jesus taught us. The Spirit cannot contradict what Jesus said, but can only bring to light, in the lives of Christians, what Jesus taught. Following, is a beautiful prayer to the Holy Spirit :
“Come Hoy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful,
kindle in us the fire of your love, so we may be re-created.”
Fr. Hugh Duffy