Holy Spirit Mondays: Fire and Forgiveness

Each week I send a short email to help you deepen your relationship with the Holy Spirit. If you have a question or a prayer request, please reach out here.

Read:

"O radiant children of the Church, receive the fiery dew of the Spirit, the cleansing of sins which brings deliverance; for now from Sion has the law gone forth: the grace of the Spirit in tongues of fire" (Canon to the Divine, Worshipful & All-Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, St. Maximos the Greek, Ode 5, Irmos).

Ponder:

Please take a few minutes to think about this passage. What does it mean?

First, it mentions radiant children. When was the last time you thought of yourself as God's son or daughter? Does that make you feel cherished? Or does that make you feel afraid? That may depend on your childhood. But now you're an adult. Decide to accept that God created you out of love and has a purpose for you. The result of such a reflection can make you feel brighter, more radiant because you better recognize that God is with you. But don't forget that radiance here also means that we are called to repentance and real change because this is how we heal and grow.

Second, it mentions a fiery dew. Look at the icon below. Doesn't it depict beautifully the tongues of fire and the radiance of those receiving the presence of the Holy Spirit? Ponder how this has worked in your life at Baptism, Chrismation or Confirmation, Eucharist, Confession, Anointing, and ... in those everyday moments that bring God's relief, care and love.

Third, it mentions the grace of the Spirit. None of us earns this divine kindness and goodwill, but we must choose to accept it and live by it. And that's the hardest thing to do. We fail. We sin. We are shortsighted and forgetful, scared and self-interested, anxious and alone.

That is why we need to do a better job of forgiving and loving more each day.

Pray:

"Most Holy Spirit, save me from myself and sanctify me."

A Coptic Orthodox icon of Pentecost.

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