Our Best Friend - the Holy Spirit

Our Best Friend - The Holy Spirit

April 2017 I wrote an article “My Best Friend The Holy Spirit.”  The title may have appeared to bring the Holy Spirit to a level exactly as us.  Of course, the Incarnation did not take away the divinity of Christ as he took on humanity.  Jesus became one person with two natures, becoming exactly like us and retaining his divinity at the same time.

With That In mind the holy Spirit, although not incarnated, has become much deeper than just the third person of the Trinity.  He is the promised one who will teach and guide each one of us.  Throughout the Old Testament writings the promise of a Savior was told to the Israelites and he was born to a woman and crucified just as the scriptures predicted.  

The pronouncement from Jesus told us his Father would send a new Advocate in his place that we would not be alone.  (Jn. 14: 15 ff).  And so it happened on Pentecost.

Pentecost brought the reality of this promise in an outstanding manner.  “When the time for Pentecst was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.  And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and filled the entire house in which they were.  Then there appeared to them tongues of fire which came to rest on each of them.  And they were filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.  (Acts. 2: 1 - 4).

When any of us is confirmed the words of the bishop, as he blesses our forehead, are; “Receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit.”  These words indicate God has just handed a Gift to us and a requirement to follow the Apostles in their position to reach people to the ends of the earth baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  (Mt. 28: 16 - 20).

The Apostles received a mandate through the holy Spirit and this is the same obligation we accept at our confirmation.  If our forte’ is to treat the holy Spirit as just a divine person it may inhibit our relationship as one on one with him and we may be reluctant to reach out to others.

However, if our connection with the Spirit is one that enables an openness with him it will become an intimacy with God in which we can call him a Best Friend.  This no longer places a wedge between man and God but the opportunity to relate with him without being intimidated.

We will be able to find through this friendship solace, understanding, and a love that can only come through a friend.  The definition of a friend is trust without being betrayed.  A Best Friend.

Ralph B. Hathaway, Pentecost will live forever!