MANILA, Philippines — Once an archbishop was discussing Christianity with a learned Japanese writer. The writer told the archbishop, “I think I understand God the Father and God the Son, but I can never understand the significance of the Honorable Bird.”

Many people will understand the problem of the Japanese writer for the Holy Spirit has eluded the imagination of scholars and preachers.

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This Sunday is the feast of the Holy Spirit or PENTECOST. Perhaps one difficulty in knowing the “mysterious” Holy Spirit is because He is represented in various symbols. The Holy Spirit is portrayed as a dove (honorable bird) that hovered over Christ when He was baptized at the river Jordan.

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At Pentecost, He came down “like wind.” “Wind” (“pnoe” in Greek) is used in the Scripture to designate a person’s “breath” or “spirit” – ruah in Hebrew. (Read Genesis 2:7; Acts 17:25). The Holy Spirit “inspires” or “breathes life into.”

And one who is inspired receives life.

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This is shown, for instance, when someone drowns and stops breathing. Somebody applies mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and his breath revives the unconscious person.

Emotionally, a person is inspired when he receives new life, when he is invigorated. Don’t we often say, “This person inspires me?”

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For the apostles of Jesus, the dramatic renewal was when the Holy Spirit descended upon them in tongues of fire on Pentecost Day.

From scared, weak-kneed disciples hiding behind closed doors, the disciples went out and boldly proclaimed the teachings of Christ.

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The Spirit also offers conversion or spiritual renewal of life. When there is sorrow for sin, the Spirit comes to fill the heart with new life.

I had a friend in the Ilocos who worked in a bank whose accounting expertise we consulted about our school finances.

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An expert accountant, he would talk of  nothing  except money – and how one could make more of it. He wasn’t  really that irreligious. In fact, he would go to church and one would call him a  “church pillar” – because literally he stood behind the pillars of the church! By the way, we have quite a number of these.

We lost track of each other for years. But recently we  met in Manila. I expected him to rattle off his favorite topic--money. But surprisingly, he was now talking about “service for the Lord” and religious experiences.

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“What  happened?” I asked. “It’s a long story,” he said, “but after joining a Life in the Spirit Seminar (LSS), I realized  that  I’d  been missing a lot of important things in life. Where  God  occupied just the fringes, now He is at the center of my life.”

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We, too,  received the Holy Spirit in baptism and confirmation, but why does He not change  our lives as he changed that of the apostles or that accountant?

There’s one thing  to remember. The Holy Spirit won’t change us unless we WANT to be changed or are open to change.

Did you ever experience, for instance, how deep in your heart you should give up some vice like gambling, drinking or not underpaying your workers or to do good?

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These are the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, it’s up to us to accept,  reject or ignore them. When you do accept them, then that’s the beginning of a new and more meaningful life.

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FAMILY TV MASS – is aired on IBC 13, 9-10 a.m. every Sunday. Comminity sponsor: Salt and Light of Christ Community. Celebrant: Bishop Teodoro Bacani, DD.

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Family TV Mass is also aired on GMA Pinoy Global Channel now. In USA, it’s shown at 6:55am.(Pacific Time). For Mass intentions, call Brian at Christ the King Seminary (cf. tel. directory) or e-mail: familytv.mass@yahoo.com.