Meditation

John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Luke 3:16)

As we saw last week, ONLY Jesus can baptise in the Holy Spirit. This is precisely why Jesus was born.

“I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!" (Luke 12:49)

For most of us, our parents chose to baptise us in the church when we were babies or small children. We became "children of God" receiving all of His graces. Why does Luke speak of Jesus baptising with fire? Is this another sort of baptism? Have I not already received both?

Strictly speaking, there aren't any differences between these two baptisms. Being baptised in the Holy Spirit is nothing else but your sacramental baptism. Our baptism made us holy sons and daughters of God (cf Lumen gentium, chapter 5, Vatican II Council). However, experience has shown us that we are not holy because we have been baptised. Everyday we have to fight against sin and ask through prayer to be fulfilled by the Holy Spirit. These daily steps towards becoming more holy, whether conscious or unconscious, are in fact a baptism in the Holy Spirit. Living more saintly and bearing fruit for the kingdom is a gift of grace given by God and it comes by being baptised again and again in the Holy Spirit. 

For example, in the parable about the tree, we learn that our spiritual life is like a tree. Our sacramental baptism is the seed that has been planted that gets all of its' nourishment to grow and become a tree that bears fruit. The tree grows in stages- first there is a tiny stem, then there are leaves then branches and finally fruit! Receiving effusions of the Holy Spirit gives us growth spurts at each stage of our spiritual life and helps us to finally bear fruit in our daily lives. This parable about the tree is the one that Jesus uses the most to help us understand the kingdom of God. From the day of our baptism, the kingdom of God has already been accomplished within us. But in order to develop an intimate and deep relationship with God and have an apostolic influence, we need to receive a life giving out-pouring of the Holy Spirit again and again. God has a plan for each and everyone of us, but our understanding and accomplishment of His plan will happen ONLY if we let the Holy Spirit transform us.

Without the continual help of the Holy Spirit, we can spend our entire life at the stage of a seed without ever growing. Our spiritual life should always be in a state of progress. Our Father's hope is that we grow to bear fruit (John 5:8) with the gift of the Holy spirit (Luke11: 11-13) because through His love, we can become models of Jesus Christ. Not only mystics but ALL children of God are called to be baptised. Our Father's most sacred desire is that we are ALL baptised in the Holy Spirit so that we can grow in our identity as sons and daughters of God. 

That said, there is a difference between us and a seed. Each of us have a soul that does not live in the same space of time as worldly things. As a parody Albert Einstein would say that a law exists for "spiritual relativity" : a time for material things and another for spiritual things. If a seed grows based on time that passes, our soul, grows based on the number of times it has encountered the Holy Spirit. Time does not exist for the soul when it isn't in communication with the Holy Spirit. Time for a soul is not measured chronologically but on the number of times it has received the out pouring of the Holy Spirit. God's plan is that He lives in us and we live in Him (John 15:4). In order to become more faithful and in resemblance to God, He had no other choice but to give himself entirely to us. How much of the Holy Spirit we receive from God is based on our capacity to receive which can vary depending on our desire and our humility. Jesus told Saint Catherine of Sienna "Make yourself a capacity and I will make myself a torrent". Let us try and make ourselves a capacity - able to receive God's Spirit this week by asking God to visit us so that we can be renewed.

Practical Advice

Reread the pasages from Scripture that talk about the Holy Spirit. Our faith is based on the holy Scriptures. Reading Scripture nourrishes our soul and our knowledge of God. Our knowledge of God gives us faith and faith gives us the mercy of God. Here are four passages that you can read and meditate upon this week:

Childhood: The Annunciation (Luke 1:35), The Visitation (Luke 1:4), and the birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1: 67) show us three different ways of the out pouring of the Holy Spirit.

Meeting Nicodemus: John 3: 1-10 

The Samaritan: John 4: 1-42

The promise of the Holy Spirit by the Father: Luke 11: 1-13

Rise to the challenge!

This week, just before going to sleep and just after waking, try to spend at least 10 minutes reading one of the passages mentioned above. Then spend 5 minutes asking our Father to receive our desire for His Spirit. You can use the prayer below to help you, but the goal is to speak from your heart.

Let us pray

Father, I believe that you created me in your image and resemblance and that you clothe me with your Holy Spirit so that I may become holy like yourself, Jesus and the Saints. Father I desire to be born again from above and give you the joy to have me as your son or daughter. Jesus give me the living waters that you promised us.

Holy Spirit, we want to get to know You. We desire to be in communion with you. We want to feel Your presence and Your force. We beg You, in the name of Jesus, manifest Yourself in our lives.