HEAVENLY LIFE THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT


TUESDAY, SECOND WEEK OF EASTER   

Acts 4:32-37; Ps 93:1-2,5; Jn 3:7-15

Only the Son of Man Came from Heaven

Nicodemus could not understand the words of Jesus Christ, for they were of mysteries beyond the mind of a natural man. Hence, we have stated in our reflection yesterday that the need for a heavenly or spiritual birth was that we may perceive, comprehend, and love spiritual things and reality founded on the Risen Lord. The Son of Man had previously mentioned these things to Nicodemus to awaken his desire for heavenly life and things. His ministry in the flesh was for the purpose of waking up this desire for heavenly life and reality in his disciples. His passion and death made life available to them and to all who believe in him. Thus, he clarified to Nicodemus that this heavenly life is had through water and the Spirit. We would not receive the Holy Spirit, the principle of spiritual life, if the water had not been made efficacious to wash away our sins; the water would have no such power if the blood of the spotless Lamb of God had not been shed for our forgiveness and redemption. It is based on these conditions that Saint John affirmed the concord of the three witnesses: water, blood, and the Spirit. They are principles of our spiritual life and the foundation of the heavenly kingdom on earth. One who believes in the resurrection of the Lord receives the Holy Spirit when baptised into the death of Jesus through water, for the blood of the Lamb to cleanse his sins.

Because the Son of Man received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, he had deep knowledge of the heavenly mysteries from the Eternal Word that is his principle of life. He stated this to Nicodemus when he says: “I tell you most solemnly, we speak only about what we know and witness only to what we have seen, and yet you people reject our evidence. If you do not believe me when I speak about things in this world, how are you going to believe me when I speak about heavenly things?” The reality of things of heaven does not contradict the earthly things, but is their foundation. We know half of the truth when we know earthly things alone, without their grounding in spiritual truths. The Son of Man knew earthly things in detail because he understood their spiritual principles. As we noted in our previous reflection, the Son of Man had a beatific vision of God because of his hypostatic union with the Eternal Word. So, he could say: “No one has gone up to heaven except the one who came down from heaven, the Son of Man who is in heaven.” He is in heaven because of his beatific vision of God. He brought the kingdom of God here on earth by his presence and dwelling in our nature. When he is lifted up, a vision of him in glory will admit us into the heavenly life; first, by our participation in his life through the Holy Spirit; and finally, by our beatific vision of God when we have been fully purified and transformed.

Subsequently, the Holy Spirit affords believers a vision of heavenly reality, helping them understand the earthly things in principle, their usefulness, and their purpose. They were able to comprehend that every good here on earth is ordered to the heavenly life and our ultimate good of union with God. The passage from Acts affirms this. “The whole group of believers was united, heart and soul; no one claimed for his own use anything that he had, as everything they owned was held in common.” Their communal life demonstrated that the Holy Spirit they received gave them a vision of heavenly communion, for the Holy Spirit is the principle of the heavenly communion in God. The sense of communion grows as we grow in the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Their life in the Spirit was a strong testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel. “None of their members was ever in want, as all those who owned land or houses would sell them, and bring the money from them, to present it to the apostles; it was then distributed to any members who might be in need.” This is the principle of the religious life and vows; it is a proclamation of the kingdom of God on earth as in heaven. “The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed; the Lord has robed himself with might, he has girded himself with power.”

Let us pray: Enable us, we pray, almighty God, to proclaim the power of the risen Lord, that we, who have received the pledge of his gift, may come to possess all he gives when it is fully revealed. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. 

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