Last Sunday, 8 June, the Universal Church celebrated Pentecost Sunday.

The solemnity of Pentecost reminds us of the powerful descent of the Holy Spirit on the primitive Church. The feast per se tells us that Christianity is not simply a body of beliefs in God, Jesus Christ and the Church. Without the Holy Spirit, Jesus ceases to exist! And the Church no longer can be conceived of!

The Gospel of Luke clearly teaches us that Jesus performed all those wonders because he was “full of the Holy Spirit”, “led by the Spirit” (Luke 4:1) and “in the power of the Spirit” (Luke 1:14). Similarly, the Church, the community of those who believe in Jesus Christ, had to undergo the same experience as that undergone by her founder. The second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles details what actually happened on the morning of the Pentecost: “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4).

In his book entitled The Cross and the Switchblade, David Wilkerson has this point to make on Pentecost: “When you strip it of everything else, Pentecost stands for power and life. That’s what came into the church when the Holy Spirit came down on the day of Pentecost”.

In what way can power and life be detected in the solemnity of Pentecost? One way of looking at it is to delve deeper into the symbolism of the festival, namely the Holy Spirit, as living, fresh and abundant water.

In the seventh Chapter of John’s Gospel we have the narrative that recounts Jesus’ participation in the Jewish feast of the Tabernacles. “On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and proclaimed: ‘If anyone thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water’. Now this he said about the Spirit, which those who believed in him were to receive; for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7:37-39).

This intriguing passage depicts the Holy Spirit as life-giving water. Where there is water it means that there is life. Thus, water and life are interchangeable: the more availability of water, the greater the capacity for growth. Without water nothing grows. When Jesus says that whoever believes in him “out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water” (verse 38), he is offering five very interesting details concerning the Holy Spirit’s working in us.

First, it is the Holy Spirit that brings about a life-change in us, who teaches us how to be Christ’s disciples, precisely by gradually moulding our heart according to the saving word of Our Saviour. Secondly, the Holy Spirit resides in our lives. The living waters emanate from the presence of the Living God in us. The Holy Spirit is the running water which gives life in abundance.

Thirdly, being the extra abundant stream, the Holy Spirit is plentiful in us. As an infinite stream, the Holy Spirit is overflowing. This fact shows us that there is no life situation in which God’s goodness is found wanting. God gives us sufficient grace to face all of life’s hurdles.

Fourth, since the Holy Spirit is the living, vivacious, life-giving and changing water, when He touches our lives He shapes them in His hope, life and joy. If my spiritual life is bearing the fruits of the Spirit such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (see Gal. 5:22-23), I am being formed by God’s Spirit.

Fifth, God’s Spirit sends us to different people so that through us He spills Himself over into their lives. As a river current the Spirit is utterly obsessed to flow God’s loving care on others.

When you feel as if you are living in the wilderness because you are lost or confused, when your heart and soul thirst for love and peace, when you find yourself trapped in a “dry and weary land” (Ps 63:1), turn to the Holy Spirit and tell Him.

Come Holy Spirit! Come God’s energising water! Energise me by your presence. Amen.

Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap