The Work Of The Spirit
(By Fr. Dexter Brereton)
One of the peculiar discomforts of leaving home and moving, especially to a large North American city like Toronto is the absolute loss of the sense of direction as familiar landmarks etched in the consciousness are erased from view and one is now reduced to the status of a “blind person” constantly having to ask directions, not knowing where anything is. There is, at times, in the initial stages, a strange sense of dread as you enter a new neighbourhood for the first time and the first thing you begin to wonder is how to get back home and when does the last bus leave.
As I began to drive, I began to take solace in ‘Google maps’ on the internet, which carried a nice map of the city and a handy little gadget which every driver should have – a G.P.S. (Global positioning System) in the form of a small hand-held device or an app on your phone. It allows you to see where you are going in ‘real time’ and even suggests a route to your destination.
The community to which John wrote these verses must have felt the same sense of drift and of disorientation, much like I did initially in Toronto; especially in the absence of the community’s founder, Jesus of Nazareth. Here then, in the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, sent from the Father, the community is being offered a “GPS” for the mind and the Spirit. The Spirit will act as an anchor in challenging times and bring to mind all the true implications of Jesus’ teaching and would help them successfully apply this teaching in all the difficulties that they faced.
In the books of the Old Testament, the Spirit of Yahweh (the English translation of the Hebrew word ruah, meaning “breath” or “wind”) is presented as an impersonal force. It is sent to individuals to help them accomplish amazing deeds on God’s behalf. In this sense the Spirit is active throughout biblical History. For example the Spirit inspires the Judges (Judges 3: 10 6 : 34); it inspires King Saul (1 Samuel 11: 6) ; It gives craftsmen their skill (Exodus 31: 3; 35: 31). In a special way it inspires the prophets (Numbers 11: 17; 1 Samuel 10: 6). Now however, in contrast to these transient experiences, Jesus brings something new to Jewish tradition. He begins to speak of the Spirit as a PERSON with whom one can come into relationship “to be with us forever.”
Theologically speaking, the Spirit is the one who guarantees the continuing presence of Jesus Christ in the community of believers in the face of his physical absence. He is the one who “reminds us of all he (Jesus) has said to us.” These last three weeks or so in the parish have been particularly trying ones for me and I find myself having lots of nightly meetings and quietly dealing with much conflict and disorder behind the scene. Yet, in all this, I find within myself a strange calm. I am not ‘disoriented’ because I can sense that the Lord’s GPS is working in my life and that even in my darkness and confusion and even in my stupidity, the Lord is working out his plan. Perhaps many of you have felt the same way at some point in your life – for example in the aftermath of a divorce or being laid off. You remained calm and you were able to peacefully deal with the challenges of life because of the GPS, the Advocate that is the Spirit of God leading us and “reminding us of all he has said to us.”
