THAT SAME SPIRIT!

The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon him - 

     the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,

     the Spirit of counsel and of might,

     the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord

-Isaiah 11:2

This is one of my favorite passages from Isaiah. I will probably say that many times as I study this book, because it contains so many of my favorite verses. This one I love because we hear it at baptisms and at confirmations. In Isaiah, this is a prophesy about Jesus.  The Spirit will rest upon Jesus.  Jesus will have the Spirit of wisdom and understanding and counsel and might and knowledge and fear of the Lord. At baptism, we receive THAT SAME SPIRIT!

The big difference is that Jesus knew how to use it (Him? Her?). We try. That wisdom and understanding stuff is especially hard. But we have the Spirit.  Our Christian lives should be spent learning how to stay in touch with the Holy Spirit and use his/her guidance and teaching in every area of our lives.

Come, Holy Spirit. Fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and we shall be created and you shall renew the face of the earth. O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit instructs the hearts of your faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolations. Amen