The intention was to redecorate the basement, connect it to the mains electricity supply, and use the area reclaimed from years of neglect to more profitable use than just storage space for unwanted bits and pieces.
The helpers had brought with them extension cables and lit up the place a little. Slowly they took out old bits of furniture, wooden boxes full of books and other knick-knacks, church ornaments, statues and whatever else had been deposited there by previous generations.
Father Ignatius and an antique dealer friend started cataloguing the items as they were recovered from the bowels of the church in order to decide whether they were of any value and worth keeping, or whether they would be sold or got rid off.
“Rather musty in here,” commented one of the volunteers carrying a large vase.
“Creepy too … if you ask me,” complained another, “I wouldn’t be surprised if this place is haunted. Is there not an old crypt at the end of this corridor?”
“Boooo … hooo !!!!” moaned another helper eerily covering his head with an old blanket.
“Grow up George …” cried out Sonia.
“Are you having fun down there?” enquired Father Ignatius from the top of the stairs as he catalogued yet another candlestick.
“Hey Father … look what I’ve found down here,” replied Sonia coming up the stairs followed by the other helpers who needed a short break.
She carefully carried a large framed picture with the glass still intact. The wooden frame needed a little cleaning but otherwise it looked in reasonable condition. The helpers wiped the dirt from the frame and glass to reveal a brightly coloured painting of a dove flying high with rays of light or fire descending on a heart.
“Wow … this is beautiful,” said George.
“Isn’t it just …” said Sonia.
“It’s the Holy Spirit …” exclaimed Father Ignatius, “I wonder how long this has been down there.”
“Why is He depicted as a dove?” asked one of the volunteers, “and fire too … The Holy Spirit is a bit of an enigma I think.”
“I understand what you mean …” reflected Father Ignatius, “the Holy Spirit can seem an enigma to some …
“He appeared as a dove at Christ’s baptism, and as tongues of fire at Pentecost when He descended on the apostles.
“I suppose many people still misunderstand who the Holy Spirit is.
“We are taught about God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit …. He doesn’t seem to have a title or a description.
“It was St Hilary of Poitiers, a Bishop in the 3rd Century AD, who first described the Holy Spirit as ‘the gift’.
“He is the gift given to us by God after Jesus ascended into Heaven. He is the very Spirit of God Himself. His very soul come back to us on earth to dwell within us and to help us in our Christian life.
“That’s why He is sometimes referred to as the Helper, the Counselor, God’s own Being living within us.”
“God living within us …” repeated George.
“Yes …” said Father Ignatius, “can you imagine that? God. Living within us. Guiding us. Helping us. Teaching us. Advising us when to speak and when to remain silent. What to say and what to do.
“Isn’t that wonderful? Or is it too difficult to imagine or believe?
“Isn’t it a tragedy that these days many people are too willing to believe that the devil can possess an individual unwillingly and reap havoc in their lives; which of course is true.
“Yet … they find it difficult to understand that the Holy Spirit of God is willing to abide within us and lead us to an eternal better life in Heaven. And He only does so when we ask Him, when we invite Him in our hearts …
“All we have to do is believe … and ask Him.”
They reflected silently for a few seconds when eventually Sonia said “I think we should hang this picture prominently in church.”
“I agree …” replied Father Ignatius, “and it will give me an opportunity to talk about the Holy Spirit in my sermon this Sunday.”
MORE FATHER IGNATIUS STORIES HERE
...I hope that your days are filled with the gift.
ReplyDeleteAmen. And you too, Tom.
DeleteGod bless.
The Holy Spirit - constant companion, comforter, convict-er, friend and guide into all truth.
ReplyDeleteAmen.
Amen Linda.
DeleteGod bless you.
Until recently, I never gave much thought to the Holy Spirit -- or Holy Ghost as my church called it. Simply a title spoken in rote during the Creed.
ReplyDeleteI forget the circumstances, but last year during lunch with Pastor Janet, she invited me to think of the Holy Spirit as my friend; to invite him in, to counsel me.
And now, this. My friend, the Counselor. I love it!
Your Pastor is right, Mevely. The Holy Spirit, or Holy Ghost, is the very soul of God. Over the years, humanity got to learn about God the Creator of all. Then, in time, they met Jesus and lived with Jesus and got to associate Him with God; the Son of God. When Jesus was raised to Heaven, as promised, He sent the Holy Ghost on Pentecost. The very essence and soul of God resided with the apostles. And it can, and does reside in us today. If we ask Him.
DeleteGod bless you my friend.
Dearest Victor,
ReplyDeleteIt is a bit confusing to say the Holy Ghost and also the Holy Spirit...
Hugs,
Mariette
Both are the same. It is an age thing ... in the old days people said Holy Ghost.
DeleteGod bless, Mariette.
In Dutch we always said that...
DeleteAnd all we have to do is ask the Holy Spirit in. Couldn't be any easier.
ReplyDeleteAmen.
DeleteGod bless, Bill.
An appropriate post for Penticost. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteOf course I meant Pentecost.
DeleteThank you Kathy.
DeleteGod bless you.
Perfect post for Pentecost, Victor. And of course, I always love another wonderful Fr. Ignatius story.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
I'm so glad you liked this story, Martha. Thank you.
DeleteGod bless always.
Ditto to what Bill said!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a comfort to know the Holy Spirit indwells in believers.
Amen, Happyone.
DeleteGod bless you and yours.
Too many people who sincerely love the Father and Jesus just don't give much thought to the Holy Spirit, and a friend of mine once pointed out that most of the old church hymns, the first verse is about the Father, the second verse about the Son, the third about the Holy Spirit, and the fourth about the Trinity as a whole.
ReplyDeleteThen what happens when the hymn is announced? "We will sing hymn number XXX, verses one, two, and four."
She said it's no wonder we grew up with the Spirit being a stranger to us, we never sang that verse, and in a way, she is right.
You've posted a wonderful explanation and story, thank you.
Good point, Mimi. Yes, I never noticed that we often miss one important verse when singing hymns.
DeleteGod bless.
Happy Feast of Pentecost! God bless to all.
ReplyDeleteThank you Manny. And best wishes to you too and your family.
DeleteGod bless.