About 35 years ago Fr Karl Rahner made the telling observation that “should the doctrine of the Trinity have to be dropped as false, the major part of religious literature could well remain virtually unchanged.” This was especially true of the Holy Spirit. In the seminary I learnt about Jesus Christ in theology, spirituality, liturgy and devotional life. It wasn’t until my first year in Korea when I joined a charismatic prayer group that I gave any serious thought to the Holy Spirit.
This is strange because the Holy Scriptures frequently mention the central role of the Holy Spirit. At creation, “darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters” (Gen. 1:2). By the power of the Spirit Jesus was conceived (Lk 1:35), lead into the desert (Lk 4:1), and begins his ministry (Lk 4:14).
In the Acts of the Apostles the Spirit plays a constant role of empowering, converting and guiding the Apostles from Pentecost onwards. The Spirit guides Philip to the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8); converts Peter to baptise Cornelius (Acts 10); helps the community in Antioch to choose Paul and Barnabas and sends them off on a mission to Asia Minor (Acts 13). The Spirit convinces the Council of Jerusalem to accept Greek Christians as Greeks (Acts 15).
The Spirit is constantly broadening the Apostles’ horizons. “It is the Spirit who is the source of the drive to press on, not only geographically but also beyond the frontiers of race and religion, for a truly universal mission” (Redemptoris Missio #25). That is why John Paul II calls the Spirit the ‘Principal Agent of Mission’.
The Spirit “blows where it wills” (Jn 3:8) and is at work in the hearts of all people of good will, in many religions and movements beyond the visible confines of the Church. It’s our missionary responsibility to have big minds and big hearts in order to search out the Spirit’s presence, just as Jesus, Philip, Peter, Paul and Barnabas and the Apostles at the Council of Jerusalem did.
Fr Noel Connolly
director@columban.org.au