The Holy Spirit in Christian Life
September 3, 2024 - Tuesday, Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church
1 Cor 2:10B-16
Every day, I pray a well-known prayer to the Holy Spirit, "Come, O Creator Spirit Blest." The decision to make this prayer a part of my daily devotion came after a realization that, without His help, life becomes unmanageable. Today, Paul tells us about three different spirits: "the Spirit of God", "the spirit of man", and "the spirit of the world" (see 1 Cor. 2:11-12).
When thinking about "the spirit of the world", a similar expression comes to mind, namely "the spirit of the age or time". Collins Online Dictionary defines it as "the set of ideas, beliefs, and aims that is typical of people in a particular period in history." "The spirit of our times" is marked by secularization, materialism, and relativism. "The spirit of the world" is usually placed in opposition to the Spirit of God. Saint Paul could have had in mind the worship of countless deities and an immoral way of life while using that phrase. But he could also have referred through this phrase to the "tragedy" of the cross, which would explain why "the rulers of this age" crucified the Lord of glory (see 1 Cor. 2:8).
Paul makes it clear that only the Holy Spirit can reveal God's hidden wisdom, which shines in the crucified Christ. To penetrate the mystery of God, we need His help and guidance. But we also need His help in living our Christian life. Only He can lead us to the whole truth (see John 16:13). Only He can reveal to us the greatness of God's gift given to us. Jesus Christ loves us and offered His life for the salvation of the world.
"The spirit of man" refers to our inner being, which includes our intellect, emotions, and will. It is what distinguishes us from other sentient beings. This spirit makes us search for happiness, the meaning of life, and God. It leads us to self-reflection, examining our thoughts and actions. We often call it the soul of man. Paul states that as the Spirit of God knows God, so the spirit of man knows man. But, in order for us to know God in a personal way and grasp God's plan of salvation, we need God's Spirit.
The good news is that all baptized "possess" Him—He dwells in us. "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us" (Rom 5:5). He transforms us in such a way that we can think according to God's mind. When Peter opposed Jesus' cross, he was thinking as "a natural man" (see Mark 8:31-33). When the Spirit of God penetrated him, he followed Christ all the way to martyrdom. The Spirit of God molds us into the image and likeness of Christ.
Now, you understand why I pray daily to the Holy Spirit. Now, you also realize how important His presence in our Christian life is. So, join me in invoking His presence daily, and may the Creator Spirit make us resemble Christ in life.