Love is the Spirit

A Meditation for Pentecost Season

Where does the Holy Spirit fit in the life and faith of the believer? In the confessional theology of most Christians the Holy Spirit is one person of the Trinity. You know, “God in three persons, blessed Trinity.” Stated as doctrine, the person and work of the Holy Spirit is the assurance that God is present in our lives, not only as our Creator and Redeemer, but as our Counselor and Comforter.

But let’s get beyond theology, where we think everything must fit together in a kind of logical, orderly way. There we discover that the Holy Spirit is in fact a free agent, moving where she will. Yes, she! Because the ancient (Hebrew) word for “spirit” is a feminine word, it is fair to use this pronoun and to attribute feminine traits to the Holy Spirit.

Nowhere is the character of the Holy Spirit more clear than when we say, “God is love” and “Love is of God.” The promised Holy Spirit comes as the wind and fire, enlivening disciples today as on the day of Pentecost long ago. We are possessed by the Spirit of the risen Christ. We are sent out into the world to witness to the grace of God at work in the world and to show the limitless love which has claimed us.

I believe the Holy Spirit is Christ’s living presence, found in each word and action of selfless love. That’s the Spirit!

Love is the Spirit

Look with me at the work of the Holy Spirit and I will show you how love works.

If I speak of the power of the Holy Spirit, but I speak in terms macho, or as if the Spirit cannot be resisted, I will not be giving the Spirit of God her due.

And if I, seeking to be Spirit-led, acknowledge the mystery of how God works; and even if my faith removes mountains of doubt, but I search without the light of love, I am nothing.

If I, in my zeal, display Pentecostal fire and give to the wind my fears, but I await the Spirit’s anointing without attending love, I gain no abiding power.

Love, awaiting a power from on high, anticipates a promised presence; does not envy a quick fix; nor does love intrude with an overblown sense of importance, but waits for a welcome.

Love, asking for a witness, bestows its spirit on all peoples as a gift. Love speaks a universal language.

Love, overflowing from the grace of God, leaves us amazed and in wonder. Love is not to be mocked, but has a way of overcoming our doubts and demonstrating its endurance.

Love takes no joy in falsehood, but has a passion for truth. Love remembers the burdens borne, the doubts conquered, the hopes renewed, the trials endured.

Love never flags in spirit.

As we envision the future, the Spirit will be poured out on each son and daughter. When new visions come and new dreams dawn, both the young and the old will be the dreamers together.

In the age of the Spirit, only the language of love will be heard, only the truth of love will prevail, for all else will fail and vanish away. When perfect love comes into being as a gift, the imperfections of our humanity will be overcome.

When I was just a novice in the things of the Spirit, I spoke of being by nature a spiritual person; I understood spirituality as an elective; I thought of the Spirit as self-generated. But then I came face to face with my maturity as a child of God, and I knew the gift of the Holy Spirit to be the power to love, even as I am loved.

And now abides faith in the Spirit, descending as a dove; hope, as a new wind blowing; and the fire of love burning, an eternal flame.

These three abide, but the greatest of these is love.

Pursue love and anticipate the Spirit’s gifts.

(Permission is given to reproduce, with source acknowledged.)
From Love’s Letters: A Poetic Book of Confessions by George Gunn
(Library Lane Press / Copyright 2001)