July 8
Daily Gleanings of the Saintly LifeMonday in Allbitown Week
He [Jesus] breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost. S. John 20:22.
AFTER our Lord's Ascension He shed forth this gift upon His people, to continue as the heritage of each succeeding generation of the Church until the end of time. He had promised His own presence with them for ever, and thus He gave it to them; for the Holy Ghost is one God with the Father and the Son. Thus is the Church, by communion from her risen Lord, filled with the Holy Ghost. As the Body of Christ, she is made "the temple of the Holy Ghost," and all the ministerial acts of the Church are done by the power of the Holy Ghost. Therefore are the two clauses of the Creed joined together, "I believe in the Holy Ghost, and the Holy Catholic Church." This unseen indwelling presence is the source of unity. We are brought into the one Church by being "baptized into" this one Spirit, for it is the inward life-giving energy of the "one outward Body." We are kept in the unity of the Church by the various ordinances appointed for "the ministration of the Spirit." This presence, making the Church of Christ something different from any mere company of men, makes it to be an object of faith. We believe that all members of the Holy Catholic Church are joined together in one unseen Body by the presence of the Holy Ghost, and that this presence fills the Church with Divine powers for the performance of her work, in bringing many sons unto glory.
To Him be endless glory, honour, power, Who to all men that serve Him faithfully In every clime the Spirit's aid vouchsafes. Meekly, with one accord the wondrous gift we seek, That He the Holy Ghost our inmost hearts First cleansing, with all wisdom may enlighten.