Our way of life outside God’s kingdom can be awfully unbalanced, verging on the comical. It does not entail living like a hermit or much meditation to observe the absurdity of what goes on around us.
The spirit transforms our egocentric cravings to a life where the wellbeing of the ‘other’ matters most
Let’s take our body. Big multinational companies run by millionaires have engaged social media tools to spread the wildest of addictions throughout society – body glorification.
It is true that our bodies are ‘temples of the Holy Spirit’, calling us to sustain a healthy lifestyle in the best possible way. But overindulgence in body upkeep seems to be close to obsessive behaviour.
Having perfect body architecture, the latest hairstyle, ultra-fashionable clothing, and loads of make-up seem to be the order of the day, if not the top priority. But the most distressing aspect of it all is that unless we conform to the expectations of the social lens, we are considered second-class citizens.
Let’s turn to our mind. Opportunities to further our intellectual development are practically infinite. Again, this is something commendable that sustains our progress and develops our natural talents. But again, chasing after every degree, masters or doctorate may not necessarily originate out of a real necessity but from a subtle longing for recognition and self-esteem. It is repulsive to project the notion that unless we ride on the intellectual plateau we tend to be regarded as useless.
And finally we turn to our blessed soul, perhaps the most neglected part of our whole being. Yet there can be no harmony in life if body, mind and spirit are not embraced as a whole. If one is detached from the other we end up having an unbalanced lifestyle… bodies which may only be fit for window display, robotic minds which can only recall processed data, or a spirit detached from the reality of life as humans.
We recently celebrated Pentecost – God’s empowerment to all believers with a spiritual vitality, the lifeblood and sustenance of each pilgrim’s journey in body, mind and soul.
Without this empowerment, even religiosity itself remains just a set of rules and rituals. With this empowerment, the Christian life blossoms with meaning and a sense of courage and joyful hope, transcending human understanding, giving us a glimpse of the Divine Life and revealing the real purpose of our existence.
Pentecost is the fulfillment of Christ’s promise: “I will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you… I will not leave you as orphans.” (John 14: 16-18)
The Spirit of truth promised by Christ is the essence of our human existence, the guiding light beyond all darkness, the healing presence in a broken world. It is the spirit that animates our whole life and transforms our intellect from ego-centric passionate cravings to a life where the wellbeing of the ‘other’ matters most. It is a spirit where the body is no longer an architectural display of flesh and blood, but a body which yearns to give of its own self for the benefit of a just society.
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit signifies the birth of the Church and the Church is us. It invites us to invoke and yield to the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives to be our guide in all the areas of our life. It urges us to move out of our alienating comfort zone into the zone of a committed relationship with the Risen Christ, who will lead us from a life of self-centeredness, greed, envy and pride into the realm and mission of love, which surpasses all things.
gordon@atomserve.net
Mr Vassallo is a spiritual guide accredited by the Centre of Ignatian Spirituality.