“Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.” “O Lord, my God, you are great indeed! How manifold are your works, O Lord.” These words from the Psalm 104 on Pentecost help to reveal the work of the Holy Spirit. How does the Spirit renew the face of the earth? Is it done in just one way, or are there a multitude of ways that grace is at work in the world?
As we think about the joys resulting from the spring arrival of Pentecost, and of our young men and women celebrating the sacrament confirmation, we often reflect upon the coming of the Holy Spirit. Our minds might linger on thinking a bit enviously what it would be like to have the Holy Spirit descend upon us. We long for the experience of being filled with indescribable peace, knowing we are close to God, that He loves us enough to come to us, to fill us with energy and enthusiasm, reviving us to live out His will.