The Language of the Holy Spirit
". . . they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language."
The first action at Pentecost had to do with the paradox of a single group of men from a particular region speaking so that others who spoke many other languages heard them in their own language. Perhaps the message was one of universal salvation. Scripture simply says the Spirit ". . . enabled them to proclaim. . . . the mighty acts of God." What could be mightier than the gathering of all nations to the loving call of God?
Too often, the call one hears in one's own language can lead one to assume God's call is exclusive to him or herself, that the others couldn't have got it right because God is speaking so personally to me! But the language of the Holy Spirit, which is heard in all languages, is the language of the Cross and the Empty Tomb. The language of the Holy Spirit is loving sacrifice and triumphing over death.
The Spirit's long embrace of love is "as a flame of fire." This simile suggests it is a passionate, dynamic, and living presence. Candles, "eternal flames" of remembrance, and the sanctuary lamp all mirror the reality of a living, present God. Each of us, born like an unlit candle, becomes light with God's touch at baptism and is the sustaining presence that burns brightly in dark places where light is sorely needed. As Jesus proclaimed, "I am the light of the world"(John. 8:12), so too we are called to live as "Children of the light"(Ephesians 5:8-19). This light, as St. Paul reminds us takes the form of the many and various gifts of the Holy Spirit; yet,
As a body is one, though, it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit, we were all baptized into one body,
whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. (1Cor.12:12-13)
whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. (1Cor.12:12-13)
And in "this one body," we work out our salvation light's gift of God. Too often, diversity is looked upon with suspicion by the institutional church and among Christian denominations. Instead of looking at one another with a sense of mystery and awe at the diverse workings of the Holy Spirit, we assume error because of the difference. Very often, this difference is mistaken as disunity; what, in fact, it is is a lack of uniformity. What living system exhibits uniformity? When, then, is the difference error? The Spirit is also our teacher, and what is not of God will always manifest itself as a force pulling people away from the peace, love, and hope of Christ. St. Paul writing to the Galatians (Gal.5:22) declares: "...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentlenesses, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.”
In 1 Corinthians, Chapter 13, after discussing the “many gifts, one Spirit,” Paul writes elegantly of the primacy of love as evidence of the Spirit’s presence:
If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge. If I have a faith that can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing....Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.13 And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Love is the language of the Holy Spirit and the sure sign of God’s dwelling and the source of our comfort, instruction, and salvation.
