THE HOLY SPIRIT AND OUR PERSONALITIES

SATURDAY, SEVENTH WEEK OF EASTERTIDE

Reflection from Friar Nicholas Okeke, OP

Acts 28:16-20,30-31; Ps 11:4-5,7; Jn 21:20-25

Theme: The Holy Spirit and our Personalities

On this last day of our Novena to the Holy Spirit, we consider the uniqueness of each person's relation, gifts, and cooperation with the Holy Spirit. Because no two persons are the same, due to variation of time and space, biological, emotional, psychological, and spiritual constitutions, the Holy Spirit enables each person to freely contribute to the beauty and growth of the Church of God. These variations imply different responses elicited by the same Holy Spirit given to each of us. The Holy Spirit is God; he knows the intricacies of each person’s constitution and modifies his inspirations and gifts to suit these different personalities. Though he knows each person’s constitution and variabilities, his knowledge never determines us, for he respects the free will he has given to the human person. This undetermined input from each person’s will into the work of the Holy Spirit introduces a certain indeterminacy and probability in our journey of grace and fellowship with him. We see this element of indeterminacy in the interaction between our Lord Jesus Christ, Peter, and John, the beloved apostle in the gospel passage from John. The Lord Jesus was at the end of his earthly ministry and threw divine light on the path before these two key apostles. The paths he reveals before them we would consider to be the boundaries of those of the other apostles and all of us coming after them. 

The indeterminacy in the response and walk of Peter was given in the gospel of yesterday when Our Lord put the three soul-searching questions to him. Because of his impulsiveness and fearlessness in his profession of faith, God called and chose him to lead. But to do a good job, he must immerse himself in the love of the Master. In other words, he must be docile to the Holy Spirit. He must allow this love for the divine Master to flow out to the young and tender souls who are weak in the faith; to the strong in the faith but who stand in danger of feeding on the wrong pasture and being exposed to the enemies of the faith by proclaiming and defining the borders of the revealed truth; he must also follow the example of the Chief Shepherd by sacrificing himself for their good and safety. Thus, Our Lord said to him: “You are to follow me?” Does this imply that the Beloved apostle John is not to follow Christ? Certainly not. But his manner of following Christ was different from that of Peter because of his delicate disposition and purity of heart and love. The same applies to each of us, we all have our own path to walk with the Holy Spirit.

The quiet and penetrating personality of this apostle of the Lamb bears much resemblance to the Holy Spirit of God. St. Paul bears testimony to the Holy Spirit in these words: “For the Spirit explores the depth of everything, even the depths of God.” Thus, the Holy Spirit finds a resting place in the hearts so pure and limpid that he reveals himself not through mighty works, charismatic leadership, etc. as characterising the disposition of Peter, but in a clear and deep understanding of divine mysteries and enunciation of profound wisdom. The disposition of the Beloved Apostle is so simple and deep that in his heart is contained the fountain of life himself. This is true because God rests in his beloved apostle to the extent that he gave him his mother Mary to be his mother. Because John’s disposition is like that of the Holy Spirit, he made him his resting place and the beloved of Jesus and the Father. The Lord's response to Peter’s concern about John reveals this and more: “Seeing him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘What about him, Lord?’ Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to stay behind till I come, what does it matter to you? You are to follow me.’” The difference between these two personalities is comparable to active life and contemplative life. According to Augustine, the former will find its fulfilment here while the latter will be fulfilled in heaven when Jesus comes. Between these two is a range of various personalities which are enriched by the different gifts of the Holy Spirit and employed in the proclamation of the kingdom of God. What is required is that each of us give himself freely to the Holy Spirit who brings out the best of our personalities. 

Let us pray: Grant us, Lord, the grace to give ourselves freely and faithfully to the communion with the Holy Spirit and follow his inspiration, that we may attain the freedom of your children in Jesus Christ and glory of heaven. 

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