What is your understanding of the Holy Spirit?

Lebanon Art - Descent of the Holy Spirit

We have a rather large group for RCIA this year and while I was fortunate to read at the 7:00 p.m. Mass last evening, I missed the beginning half of our class and arrived later than usual.

Our group is split as we have two or three participants that are unable to join us in the evening due to work commitments so they meet during the day. One of the men who usually come during the day was there last evening so I had the joy of meeting him for the first time. I shall call him "Victor."

Talk about being on fire for God! He was so refreshing! Although we have a very cool class this year that participates and is comfortable with each other enough to share their opinions and voice their thoughts, for someone to come in who does not know anyone and be as open as he was? I was really impressed!

We got on the topic of the Holy Spirit and while He is a difficult concept for most to grasp, Victor had it deep within him already and was full of all sorts of cool analogies:

• he likened the Holy Spirit to having high speed internet access to God - it fills in the time you would have waiting if you only had dial-up :)
• The Holy Spirit fills in the gaps, the recesses of your heart, like air in a room
• Not having the Holy Spirit in your life is like having a great back yard with no trees and flowers, something is missing and you feel empty

I sat and listened and said, "Victor -- where have you been?" He was extremely simple in his expression and very child-like in his faith and a tremendous joy to be around. To have such an understanding - a deep-seated understanding - of the Holy Spirit was pretty neat to witness.

Lenten Question o' the Day: What is your understanding of the Holy Spirit?

How do you decide upon Whose Name to call upon?

When do you call upon the Holy Spirit vs. Jesus or God for help?

As an aside, I don't know if your parish offers the chance to sit in on classes with the RCIA candidates, but what a wonderful way to get to know those who are coming into the Church. I have learned so much from being a part of this program over the past few years, it is such an honor to be part of their experience and their walk; I am really the one benefitting from all of this....