Holy Spirit Mondays: Tremble at Every Title

Each week I send a short reflection to help you deepen your relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Read:

On 25 November, we commemorate St. Gregory the Theologian (c. 329–390) who was a dear friend to St. Basil the Great. This is what he writes in paragraph 29 of the Fifth Theological Oration (Oration 31), often called "On the Holy Spirit."

"Indeed, I tremble when I think of the abundance of the titles [of the Holy Spirit] ...

Spirit of God,

Spirit of Christ,

Mind of Christ,

Spirit of The Lord,

The Lord,

Spirit of Adoption,

... of Truth,

... of Liberty

Spirit of Wisdom,

... of Understanding,

... of Counsel,

... of Might,

... of Knowledge,

... of Godliness,

... of the Fear of God.

Maker of all these,

Filling all with His Essence,

Containing all things,

Filling the world in His Essence,

Incapable of being comprehended in His power by the world

Good, upright, princely, by nature not by adoption

Sanctifying, not sanctified

Measuring, not measured

Shared, not sharing

Filling, not filled

Containing, not contained

Inherited, glorified, reckoned with the Father and the Son

Held out as a threat

Finger of God

Fire like God

Creator-Spirit, Who by Baptism and by Resurrection creates anew

Spirit that knows all things

... That teaches

... That blows where and to what extent He lists

That guides, talks, sends forth, separates, is angry or tempted

That reveals, illumines, quickens, or rather is the

Very Light and Life

That makes Temples

That deifies

That perfects so as even to anticipate Baptism

Yet after Baptism to be sought as a separate gift

That does all things that God does

Divided into fiery tongues

Dividing gifts

Making Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers

Understanding manifold

Clear

Piercing

Undefiled

Unhindered, 2Which is the same thing as

... Most wise and varied in His actions

Making all things clear and plain

... Of independent power

Unchangeable,

Almighty,

All-seeing,

Penetrating all spirits that are intelligent

Pure most subtle and

Uncircumscript (i.e. unlimited) ..."

Ponder:

Recite these names in the deep recesses of your mind and heart. Meditate on what they mean. Then watch just how much you change!

Pray:

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

Ask:

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