2022/05/09

38. The Formation of the Holy Spirit, part 2

"Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal" (John 6:27). In the scene of Jesus' dialogue with crowds (John 6:28-59), which begins with these his words in the Gospel of John chapter 6, we can find a clue to the formation of the Holy Spirit and the third mystery of the Incarnation. Considering Jesus had previously said, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work" (John 4:34), we can understand that the food that "the Son of man will give to you" signifies this food of Jesus and that he shares it with people in a particular way. It happens through the formation of the Holy Spirit realised by Jesus returning to heaven on the path he came from heaven. The Apostles Jesus trained for the Holy Spirit are the model for it. Thus, the Father in heaven has set his seal as the "Son of man," like Jesus, on the Apostles, whom Jesus had trained, and the faithful who would later be trained by the Holy Spirit so that they might aim for the third mystery of the Incarnation, in which they would work with the Holy Spirit (cf. this blog #32). So, Jesus taught that "Every one who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me" (John 6:45) because, in time, the faithful will come to the Holy Spirit sent by the Father in Jesus' name. The meaning of hearing and learning from the Father is understandable by the following words: "But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you" (Matthew 6:6). The faithful visit the Eucharist to receive the formation of the Holy Spirit. When they come before the Eucharist, the memory of having eaten the Eucharist during the Mass is synchronised with the present, making it easier for them to receive the formation of the Holy Spirit because the following words are fulfilled: "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him" (John 6:56). So, if you concentrate on the Eucharist, you will be connected with the Eucharist. Indeed, you went "into your room and shut the door." When the faithful receive the Eucharist, they focus their mind on having eaten but feel nothing else. If you have this experience of feeling nothing while concentrating on the Eucharist, that is the evidence of being connected with God present in the Eucharist. At this moment, you are in a state of no information in your realm of consciousness, while you are linked with God present in the Eucharist with the formation of the Holy Spirit beginning. So, never be afraid of remaining in this state of no information. Through this experience, the faithful will see the words of Jesus come true in themselves: "As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me" (John 6:57), that is, the "Father who sees in secret" rewards them.

Maria K. M.