Saving Spirit

Today’s Gospel Text:  But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. 30 He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever says a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

33 "Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! how can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Matt 12:28-34

Reflection: The Spirit of God has a special place in our salvation.

We claim that our salvation is in Christ Jesus who is the way the truth and the life. (Jn. 14:6)

Whereas this passage of Scripture assures us that our salvation is in believing the mighty possibilities of the Holy Spirit and not to blaspheme against him nor distrust his working. 

A close look at Jesus’ statement gives us the impression that it was not so much Jesus but the Holy Spirit who actually casts the demons out.  In other words, Jesus casts the demons out by means of the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit.

Jesus is the face for the action and work of the Holy Spirit. In other words he has been the perfect instrument of the Holy Spirit.

In his defense of the Holy Spirit he proves his awareness of this working of the Holy Spirit and his mighty possibilities.

In a way he reveals to all his followers about the great possibilities of the Holy Spirit; if only we don’t sin against him by our callous attitude or rejection of him, on account of our pride and self-belief. 

In other words to believe in Jesus as our savior means to believe in the Holy Spirit and his work and in no way can one separate this element from the faith.

It is not just a mere belief in the Trinity of persons, but a dynamic belief in the Trinity of person; acknowledging the role of each one in the economy of our salvation. 

This includes each one of us too who become instruments of Salvation by the working of the Holy Spirit and it includes the church triumphant who is reigning with Jesus while still working with us; the Holy Saints. 

It is ultimately the Holy Spirit who is a means of communication; a communication in which he makes God present and real to us.

Without the Holy Spirit, the Christian faith would be no different than any other religion.

if Christianity in any way looks ordinary and empty of power, inviting the many observers, both within and outside, to compare it with any other religion then it is so, many a times, on account of the absence or dormant presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the followers of Christ.

Prayer: Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love.

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