Holy Spirit Day

This day after Pentecost is dedicated to the third Person of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit… Who, on the day of Pentecost came down upon the disciples of Christ in the spirit of tongues of fire – illuminating them with divine wisdom, the gift of speaking in the languages of all those assembled around them, and filling them with those fruits of the Holy Spirit which Apostle Paul enumerates as: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control.

Throughout the centuries of the life of Church, the Holy Spirit continues to be poured out upon Christians, empowering them with wisdom and courage, love and humility.

In the third century, we have the example of St Anthony the Great, who said to his disciples: ‘I prayed for you, that you would also be vouchsafed to receive that great fiery Spirit, which I have received... When He is received, He will reveal higher mysteries to you, drive away from you any fear of people or beasts, and you will have heavenly joy, day and night. And you will be in this body as those who are already in the Kingdom of Heaven.’

Closer to our times, we have the words of St Seraphim of Sarov, who said: ‘When the Spirit of God comes to a person and overshadows him with the fullness of His inspiration, then that person’s soul is filled with unspeakable joy, for the Spirit of God makes glad everything that He touches.’

And in our own times, we have the words of the greatly revered Elder John (Kristiankin) of Pskov Caves, who tells us: ‘Thus, we see that from the day of that event in the upper room in Zion, a new power has entered the world. It is a power that founds the Kingdom of God in human hearts. By the pouring out of the Holy Spirit a person is transfigured, made a new creature, and partakes of divine life. This miracle of God’s mercy occurs uninterruptedly throughout the history of the Church and should bring the world and man to complete theosis or ‘god-likeness’. Again and again the mystical unification of the Creator with the creation takes place. And this is unspeakable blessedness, the highest summit in a person’s journey from earth to heaven. From the moment of Pentecost, a sea of enlivening grace has flooded the earth... It has passed through the centuries... illumined many nations... And in our days it fills the holy churches and the hearts of the faithful, if only in humility they would sincerely cry out: ‘O Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, come and abide in us... and save our souls!’

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, the cares and distractions of this world try to obscure the Light of the Holy Spirit. It is up to us to set our sights higher and deeper in order to seek and make a home in our hearts for the Holy Spirit. I am reminded of the following poem which expresses this:

Growing shadow of the raven,

Stalking silhouette of terror,

Eclipses vision of the haven,

Leaving us to grope in error.

While everywhere there flies in search,

The dove of white with olive wood,

She seeks stretched limbs on which to perch,

And brings to man the Wondrous Good.

May God grant that we have the humility and the vision to be among those who have our arms outstretched… looking past the distractions and the enticements of this world to desire and seek the only One Who can truly satisfy our longings – the ‘Treasury of Good Gifts and the Giver of Life’, the Holy Spirit, Who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified. Amen.