The Spirit has never stopped. The Bible speaks of the Spirit as God’s dynamic presence throughout creation. The breath of divine life, which draws order out of chaos in Genesis, is breathed into humanity and all creatures, and is gifted to the prophets. It is the Spirit who enables Mary to give birth to God’s own Son. The Spirit who works with Jesus to heal and renew. The Holy Spirit blows where the Spirit wills and calls who the Spirit chooses. Disciples or apostles – anyone who desires God will be touched by the Holy Spirit in their journey of faith.
Artists have rarely portrayed the Holy Spirit as a mighty wind or breeze despite the Hebrew word, Ruach, meaning both a powerful force and a gentle breath. It is difficult to depict something that escapes shape and definition yet has effect, is transcendent and always on the move. So, in works of art, we usually see the Holy Spirit symbolised:
In his lifetime, the Spirit was experienced above all in what Jesus did and said, people could feel the power of the Spirit go out from him. Jesus promised to send the Spirit to the disciples after he had gone, to help them remember and understand, to work in his power.
The Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost on the whole gathered community. And while the Spirit can inspire and move us as individuals, it is in community that we seek to discern his presence and guidance still.
Pentecost is a feast of hope and an insurance policy against our slowness and hesitancy. The new law of Christ is written today, not on cold tablets of stone but engraved on our hearts. This is the law of love and grace. So this dove-from-above that dive-bombed into our world has remained with all believers ever since. Not as anything visible, but then dove-tailing is a delicate business. At Pentecost we celebrate the subtle dove-tailing of the Spirit within the depths of our lives.
So let us welcome the Holy Spirit into our lives once again. May we travel anew with the Spirit, no matter the journey to come.
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