Holy Spirit Encyclical (cont'd) - Part I -paragraph 20

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today we continue the Holy Spirit Encyclical, Part 1 - paragraph 20:

1. The theophany at the Jordan clarifies only in a fleeting way the mystery of Jesus of Nazareth, whose entire activity will be carried out in the active presence of the Holy Spirit.70 This mystery would be gradually revealed and confirmed by Jesus himself by means of everything that he "did and taught."71 In the course of this teaching and of the messianic signs which Jesus performed before he came to the farewell discourse in the Upper Room, we find events and words which constitute particularly important stages of this progressive revelation. Thus the evangelist Luke, who has already presented Jesus as “full of the Holy Spirit” and "led by the Spirit…in the wilderness,"72 tells us that, after the return of the seventy-two disciples from the mission entrusted to them by the Master,73 while they were joyfully recounting the fruits of their labors, "in that same hour [Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said: ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was your gracious will.’"74 Jesus rejoices at the fatherhood of God: he rejoices because it has been given to him to reveal this fatherhood; he rejoices, finally, as at a particular outpouring of this divine fatherhood on the “little ones.” And the evangelist describes all this as "rejoicing in the Holy Spirit.

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This “rejoicing” in a certain sense prompts Jesus to say still more. We hear: "All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."75
How beautifully Pope St. John Paul II weaves into this Encyclical different parts of the Scripture to help us learn the Truth as he learned from the Holy Spirit! We found in this Encyclical so far passages from John’s Gospel and today a particular passage from Luke’s Gospel, but we also heard from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah speaking God’s Truth about the Servant of God who was to come. St. John Paul II helps us to appreciate that God reveals Himself in all of Scripture and each part of scripture “fits” into the whole. St. John of the Cross wrote that God spoke only One Word and His name is Jesus!

Today’s paragraph 20 can encourage us to turn and become as little children – not childish, but childlike! There is a willingness in little children to trust; and how important it is for us to trust that God is Who He says He is! It is important for us to believe even when His Word may be mysterious and difficult for us to understand. Whenever we are tempted to doubt His Love, in any trial, let us look at a Crucifix. Let us call on the Holy Spirit to enlighten our minds and strengthen our wills that like Abraham the great father of Faith, we hope beyond hope; and look to Mary who stood beneath the Cross as Mother of our Faith. We have many human witnesses who prove “nothing is impossible for God”. Let us open our hearts to His Holy Spirit, given to us to bring us into all truth.

We are all called to holiness – God continues to do His part to pour out His Grace and reveal Himself to little ones. Let us do our part in cooperating with His Grace. Father, into your Hands we give ourselves with Jesus and Mary and all your little ones. Jesus, we trust in You. Come Holy Spirit, complete the work you have begun in us – guiding us, strengthening us, enabling us to Love as God loves!