An Adequate Response
May/Jun 2014
The Holy Spirit is often described as the bond of love that exists between the Father and the Son. The mutual self-donational and self-communicative intimate bond between the Father and the Son is so perfect that perfect love exists between the two. Therefore, the Holy Spirit is the love between the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit is the third person in the Holy Trinity. The Holy Spirit is consubstantial with the Father and the Son. This divine mystery occurs because the goodness of God must be communicated and shared.
But the Most Holy Trinity must communicate its goodness. This explains the existence of the whole of creation. It affords a place for the Most Holy Trinity to communicate its goodness and share God’s divine life. We are then called into existence out of pure love. Humanity has the capacity to receive and enter into a relationship with divine love. We also have the capacity to communicate, share, and love the Most Holy Trinity.
This is the call to holiness and wholeness in the life of every person, the call to respond to the love of God poured into our hearts. What is the right and ad- equate response to a God who would give himself to us—and even die—so we might know the depths of his mercy and love?
There is only one proper response—the gift of self. We give ourselves in loving service to the one who gave himself in loving serve to us.
Holiness is setting oneself aside for the purposes
of God. We realize our lives are not our own. We have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. And so, if we claim a relationship with him, we are bound to God and offer ourselves in service to our sisters and broth- ers, who are also the children of God. This service in love brings us wholeness at both a personal and com- munal level.
When we allow the love of God into our lives, we can be healed from all our sins, the injuries other people may have inflicted upon us, and our selfish desires. This offers true freedom, which allows us to reach out to those in need, show them the love of God, and bring healing to their lives.
In doing so, our pains begin to take on new mean- ing. The story doesn’t end in pain, but rather, mutual healing. The result is a whole community in unity who can offer fitting thanksgiving and praise to show their love for God.