The three so-called Advent figures are the Blessed Virgin Mary (of course), John the Baptist (the Lord’s precursor), and the prophet Isaiah (who spoke of the Messiah and God’s kingdom). To my thinking, the predominant Person was omitted from this line up, namely, the Holy Spirit.
Yes, the Father sent the Son to save humankind, and the Son humbly agreed to this mission. But it was the Third Person who brought about the incarnation. As the Angel Gabriel predicted to Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” Through the divine power of the Holy Spirit, the God-Man began to take shape in the womb of the young, unmarried Mary.
The Genesis account of creation opens with the Spirit of God sweeping over the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:2) After that pristine creation was spoiled by sin, the same Spirit initiated the new creation with the cooperation of a Jewish teenager. Mary bears the title Spouse of the Holy Spirit. No doubt, the Spirit oversaw the development of the Savior for the nine months he grew within this blessed Mother.
Likewise, the Holy Spirit cultivates the life of God within us. At the first moments of our existence, he made us in the image and likeness of God. At Baptism the Trinity took up residence within us, filling us with grace, divine life.
Again the Holy Spirit acted in the life of Jesus by coming down on him in the form of a dove at his baptism in the Jordan River. This salient event marked the inauguration of Jesus’s mission. The Holy Spirit accompanied Jesus all through his life, inspiring him to teach, empowering him to work miracles, and strengthening him to endure the challenges, antagonism, and suffering he encountered.
Similarly, in the Sacrament of Confirmation, the Holy Spirit strengthened us to go forth proclaiming the Good News to the world. With his seven gifts aflame in us, we are equipped to live well and be a blessing to others.
At the Last Supper Jesus promised to stay with us as the Holy Spirit. As an indwelling God, he would help us when faced with a daunting task, teach us what is truly true, guide us in keeping from harm, and counsel us in making decisions. As we await the Final Coming of Jesus at the end of time, the Holy Spirit is our faithful companion. As we await the inevitable last day of our life when we are called Home, the Holy Spirit is with us. He is not just overshadowing us, but living and acting within our very being.
It was the Holy Spirit who “overshadowed” the body of Jesus in the tomb and brought him to a new, glorified existence. And as Scripture attests: “But if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you” (Romans 8:11).
On Pentecost, known as the birthday of the Church, the Holy Spirit came down on the Mystical Body of Christ. He hasn’t left us. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, common bread and wine is transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ every day.
If you are interested in learning more about this “hidden God,” you might read my book The Holy Spirit: Font of Love, Life and Power, available on Amazon as a paperback and an ebook.
• When do you think of the Holy Spirit? Pray to him?
Here is a moving hymn to the Holy Spirit for your quiet reflection: