In the Spirit, He is with Us
A song from the musical Chess contains the lyrics, “No one in your life is with you constantly, no one is completely on your side.” Anyone who has missed a family member or friend at an important moment in life can relate to this sad sentiment. When someone tells us, “I am with you in spirit”, even if we don’t doubt their desire, a part of us might still lament their physical absence.
This month we celebrate Ascension and Pentecost. Jesus told his Apostles that it would be better that he go so that he could send the Spirit; and our Faith promises that this is not a lamentable absence.
Jesus ascends in his humanity to the throne of the Father, and the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. As the Spirit made Jesus present in Mary’s womb at the Annunciation, and in the Apostles themselves at Pentecost, the Spirit makes Jesus present among us now.
Jesus promised his disciples that he would be with us always, and when Jesus promises to be with us in Spirit, he sends forth the Spirit to make him present to us in the flesh.
Let us beg for eyes that recognise how Jesus fulfils this promise in the sacraments, and in the apostles he sends us today – those people who touch our lives and are filled with his Spirit, and become the living face of Christ for us.
Someone is with me constantly… the Spirit through whom Jesus continues to become flesh, and dwells among us!
Father Richard Veras