Holy
Spirit in the Life of Christ and the Christians
Fr. Sebastian Pullatt MST
Introduction
Christ experience and Spirit experience act as a fundamental experience
in the life of every Christian. Christian experience draws its power and
strength from Christ, who came to give us life and life in fullness (Jn
10:10). Here we must try to see the role of the Holy Spirit in the life
of Jesus. Every Christian is invited to follow the Archetype of Christ
in his attempt to have life and have it in fullness. We try to see the
unique role of the Person of the Holy Spirit in Christ and every Christian.
1. Holy Spirit in the Life of Jesus
The Holy Spirit was active at the Incarnation. It was by the Spirit that
Mary conceived Jesus (Lk 1.35). Only because of the active presence of
the Spirit the son of Mary was called the ‘Son of God’. Jesus
had been filled with the Spirit from the moment of his conception. Jesus
was indeed the Son of God and he was filled with the Holy Spirit from
the very first moment of the Incarnation.
At the Baptism of Jesus we find a new communication of the Holy Spirit
in the life of Christ for his Mission (Mt 3:16;Mk 1:10). All three synoptic
gospels show that the ministry of Jesus begins with the reception of the
Spirit in a unique way at his baptism in the river Jordan. After his baptism
and the temptations in the desert, he returns to Galilee in the power
of the Spirit. At the synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus reads Isaiah 61:1-2a:
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to
bring good tidings to the afflicted....’ and declares: ‘Today
this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing’ (Lk 4: 18-21).
Thus we find that this unique anointing with the Spirit at Jesus’
Baptism was for his mission. He was anointed by the Spirit at his baptism
in order to be the Messiah, the minister of salvation and holiness. This
unique presence of the Spirit enables Jesus to make others holy.
Jesus’ decision to go and be baptized by John, lining up with sinners,
is a ‘fiat’ to Father’s call and Jesus’ obedient
‘yes’ as his response. At the moment of the Incarnation, there
is the ‘fiat’-free consent of Mary to the salvific action
of God. It is the free consent of a creature, a human being. But at the
‘fiat’ of Jesus, there is something new and unique in salvation
history: the free and human consent of a God!
2. Holy Spirit as the Inseparable Companion in the Mission of Jesus
The Holy Spirit is present right at the moment of Incarnation (Lk 1:35).
Jesus is anointed with the Spirit at his baptism (Mt. 3.16). Holy Spirit
is the unseen companion throughout the life and ministry of Jesus. He
preached in the power of the Spirit. He worked miracles, healed the sick
in the power of the Spirit. Hence St. Basil says that the Holy Spirit
“was a continual presence in the life of our Lord, being his anointing
and his inseparable companion” and that “all Christ’s
activity unfolded in the presence of the Spirit.”
Holy Spirit precedes Jesus in the Incarnation, accompanies him in his
life and ministry and succeeds him in his exaltation. Jesus’ whole
life and ministry unfolded under the action of the Holy Spirit. Gospels
pinpoint certain peak moments of action of the Spirit in the life of Jesus.
We can identify three such moments: the Spirit urges Jesus on, to struggle
against the devil (Mk 1.22), to preach the gospel (Lk 4.18), and to pray
to the Father (Lk 10.21). Jesus frees himself from Satan, to free every
one from Satan. His healing ministry is carried out in the power of the
Holy Spirit: ‘By the finger of God I drive out demons” (Lk
11.20; Mt 12.28). Summarizing the constant presence and action of the
Holy Spirit in the life and ministry of Jesus, St.Peter says: “God
anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about
doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil”
(Acts 10:38). Filled with the joy by the Holy Spirit, Jesus enters into
communion with the Father: “I bless you Father, Lord of heaven and
of earth.” (Lk 10:21). Overcoming the power of evil, Jesus proclaims
the Good News of salvation which leads human race into communion with
the Father.
3. Trans-historical Mission of
Christ in the World
Earthly mission of Jesus culminates in the passion and death of Jesus.
With the resurrection, Jesus achieves a trans-historical form of existence.
Jesus’ appearance to the disciples in the closed room shows that
risen Jesus had surpassed the space limits. All the resurrection appearances
show that Jesus was transcending the limits of space. After the ascension,
the presence of Christ in the world is spiritual. His spiritual existence
enables him to go beyond the space and time. This real, spiritual presence
of Christ is experienced in a unique way in the breaking of the bread.
Eucharistic presence is the example par excellence of the trans-historical
presence of Christ. The risen and exalted Christ is acting and active
in the Church, in the Sacraments of the Church, in the breaking of the
Word of God, and in a most sublime manner in the Eucharistic Communion.
It is the trans-historical presence of the risen and exalted Jesus which
enables Jesus to be present simultaneously in thousands of altars all
over the world where Eucharist is offered. Sacramental presence of Christ
is the most salvific act of Christ for all times. “I am with you
always, yes to the close of the ages” (Mt 28:20).
4. Holy Spirit as the Principle of
Sanctification
The sanctifying ministry is particularly attributed to the Holy Spirit.
Jesus is Anointed with the Spirit for our Benefit. “The descent
of the Holy Spirit on Jesus in the Jordan,” St Athanasius writes,
“was for our benefit...to make us holy, so that we might share in
his anointing and of us it might be said: ‘Do you not know that
you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you’
(1 Cor 3:16). For when the Lord, as a human being, was washed in the Jordan,
we were the ones who, thanks to the Lord, were made recipients of the
Spirit.” Epiclesis reminds us of the sanctifying action of the Holy
Spirit in the Eucharist. It is the sanctifying action of the Holy Spirit
that actualises the sacraments making it redemptive for all peoples of
all ages.
5. Christian Life as participation in the Life of Christ and the Spirit
At Pentecost, Jesus pours out the Spirit which he himself had received
from the Father at his baptism. Hence Vatican II affirms that at Pentecost,
the Lord Jesus “has made his whole Mystical Body share in the anointing
by the Spirit with which he himself has been anointed.” The Holy
Spirit comes to us exactly as he came upon Jesus. Through baptism, every
Christian becomes a member of the Mystical Body of Christ. It is the action
of the Holy Spirit that makes us become a member of the Mystical Body
of Christ. In fact, sacraments are effective by the joint action of Christ
and the Spirit. Hence St Ambrose says: “The Father, the Son and
the Spirit are everywhere, with one working, one sanctification. But certain
things are seen as particular to each Person. How may this be? God has
anointed you, the Lord has marked you with the seal, and He has put the
Holy Spirit into your heart. You have, then, received the Holy Spirit
in your heart. Receive something else as well: for, as the Holy Spirit.
Is in your heart, so Christ is in your heart.” (De Sacr. VI.5-7).
6. Trinitarian Communion as the Model and Goal of Christian Life
Jesus manifested throughout his earthly existence a unique Abba experience.
Baptism of Jesus becomes a high point where Jesus experienced the Abba
and the Spirit in a unique way. The filial consciousness of Jesus as the
‘only Son of the Father’ is being attested by the heavenly
voice: ‘You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”
(Mk 1:11). Filled with the Spirit Jesus rejoiced in the Father. Jesus’
prayer throughout his life, climaxed at Gethsemane, manifests this unique
Abba relationship. Jesus was in constant loving relationship with the
Father and the Spirit. Jesus was sent by the Father on a mission on earth.
His mission was being accomplished in the company of the Spirit. Here
we find a Trinitarian Communion. Hence Jesus’ mission is carried
out in a Trinitarian milieu.
Following the pattern of earthly mission of Jesus, the trans-historical
mission of Jesus is accomplished in a Trinitarian context. The joint mission
of Christ and the Spirit sanctifies and unites human beings into Trinitarian
communion. Exalted Christ and Pentecostal Spirit continue to act powerfully
in the life of every Christian. Participating in the sacraments of the
Church, men and women of all ages are sanctified by the Spirit and united
into the Mystical Body of Christ. United in Christ, we are enabled to
call Abba. It is the Spirit who dwells within us that enables us to call
Abba, Father. Through the Word of God and the Sacraments of the Church,
every Christian enters into communion with the Father, Son and the Holy
Spirit.
7. Spirit of the World in Constant
Rebellion
Early Christians lived in a spirit-filled world. Some spirits were good,
others were bad, and each kind could be known by their fruits. Of course,
there is always the problem of discerning of spirits.
Evil spirit rebels against the Holy Spirit. Modern man has conveniently
eliminated devil from the scenario, not by driving him out by the finger
of God, but by denying his existence. As Charles Baudelaire says: ‘Satan’s
greatest cunning is to make people believe he does not exist’. The
Tempter is interested in the souls. He has cunning devices to trap men
into his own ways by killing the voice of conscience. The world is becoming
deaf to the conscience and thus becomes prey to moral decadence. St. Paul
exhorts us not to conform ourselves to the spirit of the age (Rom 12:2).
The spirit of this age has the power to anesthetize our consciences. Every
Christian is invited to be led by the Holy Spirit and be united to Christ
so that ultimately we enter into communion with the most holy Trinity.
Conclusion
Holy Spirit had a unique role in the event of the Incarnation of the Logos
in history. Baptism of Jesus in the river Jordan becomes a peak moment
of the Abba experience and Spirit experience of Christ. The entire public
ministry of Jesus is carried out in the power of the Spirit and in constant
communion with the Father, whom Jesus called Abba. The risen Lord Jesus
achieves a new pattern of existence which we call trans-historical presence
of Christ-a presence which transcends time and space in history. The exalted
Christ continues to act in the world and in human beings. Every human
being is invited to participate in the redemptive work of Christ. The
salvation achieved through the life, ministry, passion, death and resurrection
of Christ is to be personalized by every human being through his positive
response to the call of Christ and his Spirit. Every Christian is united
to the Mystical Body of Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, thus enabling
him to enter into Trinitarian Communion.
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