The Holy Spirit who Forms our Life

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And
the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters (Gen 1,2). The Holy Spirit has been at
work to transform the formless with the form and to convert the void into fullness from the
very beginning of the creation. The same Spirit of the Lord acted in different persons of the
Old Testament whenever the people of God faced some challenges or dangers either
externally or internally. Joseph (Gen 41,8), Balaam (Num 24,2), Othniel (Judg 3,10), Gideon
(6,34), Samson (14,6), Saul (1Sam 11,6), Ezekiel (Eze 11,24), Azariah (2Chro 15,1), etc. are
some of the examples.
The activity of the Holy Spirit reaches its climax after the ascension of the Lord Jesus. During
his public ministry, Jesus assures of the creative role of the Holy Spirit (Jn 14,18.25). The
disciples were once ready to go with the Lord in order to die with him (Jn 11,16). But the
disaster brought about by the passion and death of the Lord was not negligible in the case of
the disciples. The formation they received from their master broke down. Peter, their leader,
who avowed not to deny Jesus even though he must die with him (Mt 26,35), broke his
promise and denied him thrice (Mt 26,70-74). Out of the fear of the Jews who killed Jesus,
they sought security by locking the doors of the house where they stayed (Jn 20,19). Leaving
behind their vocation, they retracted to their previous profession of fishing (Jn 21,3). In short
their discipleship itself became void. However, the reception of the Holy Spirit on the day of
the Pentecost overturned the life of the disciples. They came out of their closed room and
began to speak in a manner that the Jews from every nation gathered together in Jerusalem
could hear them (Acts 2,4-6). Peter standing with the eleven declared that God raised up Jesus
of Nazareth whom they crucified and killed.
The Holy Spirit is still at work in the church bestowing on her members the fruits of love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5,22-23).
The recent martyrdom of the 21 Coptic Christians and the 30 Ethiopian Christians in Libya is
an unparalleled witness to the working of the Holy Spirit. Because, even at the face of terrible
persecution and death, they clung to their faith in Christ, displaying patience, joy and self-
control. They considered their Christian faith more worthwhile than their earthly existence.
The many of the Coptic Christians who made pilgrimage to Jerusalem during Easter, brought
with them the banners and photos depicting their fellow Christians who heroically shed their
blood for Christ. The bloodshed of their dear ones nourished their faith instead of effecting
terror! Their presence itself had a charismatic power to kindle the zeal of the other pilgrims
and Christians who were in Jerusalem on those days. The same Spirit who was at work in
these fellow Christians are looking for the prospect of being active in us and after all each one
of us is his temple (1Cor 6,19).
Wherever there is formlessness and void in human life and community, it goes against the
creative work of the Lord, because everything he created was good. Then the Holy Spirit is
desperate for appropriate persons to make them his instruments in order that he may effects
for and fullness to all are deprived. St. Paul warns us: And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of
God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption (Eph 4,30). Being
nurses, we are closer to the people who are suffering and are lacking in courage, hope, peace
and joy. Whenever we approach them, they should feel the nearness of the Lord. Our words
and touch shall bring them courage, peace, joy and healing. For this first and foremost we
have to guard the good treasure (i.e., the faith) entrusted to us, with the help of the Holy Spirit
living in us (2Thim 1,14). Let the feast of Pentecost be an occasion for us strip off from our
life all that is contrary to him and to be renewed in the Spirit in order to become his active
instruments.
Fr. Paul Kunjanayil MCBS