Pneumatic priests

The Easter triduum starts with the celebration of the washing of the feet. Jesus, the Servant of servants, humbly washes the feet of his disciples before he goes for his passion and death. This he does to fulfil his own word when he said: "The Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20, 28). Jesus managed to give his life for the salvation of the human race by acting "in the Holy Spirit" (Luke 10, 21).

The New Testament is crystal clear about the Holy Spirit's leading power in the life and ministry of Jesus. For instance, just before Jesus started his public ministry Luke tells us: "And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit for 40 days in the wilderness, tempted by the devil" (Luke 4, 1). The Spirit motivates and accompanies Jesus in the arduous yet privileged space, the desert, whereby he could meet his Father in prayer. There, in the silence of the desert, Jesus could speak heart to heart with his Father. Jesus did not escape the menacing presence and attacks of the evil one. But the victory was his as John says in his gospel's prologue: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1, 5). Jesus continued to be the saving light of the world by his teachings, healings and particularly by his sacrificial death and resurrection.

As a caring and wise Master, Jesus gave the Spirit to his disciples to continue his mission here on earth. This he did in two distinct occasions. The first one occurred in the evening of his resurrection. There Jesus breathed on the disciples and told them explicitly: "Receive the Holy Spirit" (John 20, 22). He also empowered them to forgive and retain sins. The second instance happened at Pentecost day when the Spirit came upon the disciples "like the rush of a mighty wind" (Acts 2, 2) and "rest[ed] on each one of them" (Acts 2, 3). Through the power of the Holy Spirit the apostles healed, exorcised, evangelised, and led the Church of God.

Walking on the same footpath of the apostles we as priests are co-sharers with them in the one priesthood of Christ. In our ordination ceremony we laid prostrate so that the whole Church could invoke the Holy Spirit on us, to come and take possession of who we are. When the bishop anointed us with the holy chrism, we disposed ourselves to the sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit in our priestly life. We fervently asked the Spirit to have a free reign in our sacerdotal existence. We implored him to make our ministry fruitful. In our enthusiasm we prayed that our hearts burn as a living holocaust to God and his people, the Church.

On Maundy Thursday, when Christ instituted the Eucharist and our priesthood, we priests are challenged once more by the always pertinent question: "Where is your faith?" (Luke 8, 25). We have been giving various answers to this question. Some of us have decided to take a destructive critical stance to whatever is presented to them. Others let doubt poison their enthusiasm whereas a group of us are perhaps considering leaving the priesthood alogether. But for those of us who believe in the immense gift we received at the day of our ordination let us implore the Holy Spirit once again: "Come Holy Spirit and fill our hearts with the power of your Love. Amen!"