Access for All

Gospel: John 16: 12-15

When it comes to this mysterious figure of the Holy Spirit, we have acquired some unhealthy ideas over the years.  We have come to believe that only a small select group of men have access to the Spirit at all time and that every decision they make is guided by the Spirit.  In our own life our access to the Spirit is limited to sacramental moments at baptism and confirmation.  At all other times the Holy Spirit is a nice conversation piece in our theological attic.

But Jesus tells us that we have access to the Spirit at all times, and that the Spirit will guide each one of us in the way of all truth, not merely in some institutional sense but in our individual, personal lives.  The Spirit dwells within each person as we are told that we are temples of the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit, then, cannot be contained by institutional machinations.  The Spirit is present to each of our lives, there to guide us in all truth as well.

Each day we look to the Spirit for guidance in the truth, in making judgments we need to make in our lives.  We look to the Spirit to inspire us to do the works of mercy and loving kindness as Jesus did while on earth.  And we look to the Spirit for consolation when the struggles and difficulties of life become overwhelming at times.  We have received a great gift.  Let us not consign her to our attic of oddities, but instead cultivate a mind that listens to her wisdom each and everyday.