The Third Glorious Mystery

The Descent of the Holy Spirit

As Elisha is covered with the mantel of Elijah the Apostles are covered with the mantel of the Holy Spirit.  Elisha received a double-portion of the spirit of Elijah while the Apostles received the over-abundant plenitude of the Spirit of God.  No place is this more evident than with the Prince of the Apostles.  Peter is transformed from a stumbling, bumbling cur of a man into the Blessed Peter we see in the Acts of the Apostles and in his epistles.  So great was the grace bestowed upon Peter that people yearned to merely be touched by his shadow that they might be healed.  How abundant is God's gift to those whom He loves.  Peter received what we all might receive if we only had faith in the Lord Jesus.  Just a little faith, the faith of a mustard seed, and we too will work signs and wonders in the midst of His people.  But we must be humble and pierce the depth of the command of service.  If I invoke the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus it must be to build His Church.  This gift is not given to me for me.  Rather, this gift is given to me for others.  The Holy Spirit prays for me, preaches for me, lives in me so that it is no longer I who works but Christ who works in me.  But, Mary too was in the upper room and she wrote no great letters, preached no great sermons nor performed any great healings.  What then does this service mean?  It is not merely for actions of a practical nature.  We must never forget that the Kingdom is of the Spirit and not of the Flesh.  Thus, Mary shows us the humble way of service.  She neither speaks nor labors in the vineyard of the world.  Instead it is through her stable intercession on behalf of all her Children that she builds up the Kingdom.  This must be our first act.  We must intercede for our brothers and sisters as Mary intercedes for us.  It is only after we pray for others that we may be of corporeal service to them.  Let us not forget the Spirit!  Our age dwells on the pragmatism of the flesh and we must never succumb to the temptation of such pragmatism.  We must spread the Gospel with broad brushstrokes adding flourishes and beauty to this life.  Through our own Deification we must divinize the world.  Come O Holy Spirit ... renew the face of the earth.