WHEN THE SPIRIT OF GOD SPEAKS | KAIROS GLOBAL | JUNE 2019

Author: Mahima Mary Anthraper

Intro: Mahima Anthraper takes a peek at the maternal heart of God, that has given us so wonderful a helper, the Holy Spirit.

“In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters” (Gen 1:1-2). We know this wind as the Holy Spirit, the same spirit that God breathed into the nostrils of the first man Adam. God in his Son willed this spirit to be sent us as a helper for us mortals in our journey to eternity – “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever” (Jn 14:16).

As a teenager, growing up in an environment of faith – while the Catholic Charismatic renewal was infusing its freshness across Kerala (India) at the beginning of the new millennia, I was quite taken by the idea of having a divine helper. As I read John 14:26, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you”, I imagined an invisible force that would do for me everything I was finding difficult to do myself – viz. teach me all my school lessons, help me remember what I had learned, and of course, would speak up for me in my helplessness. Little did I know then that in my ignorance I was restricting the Holy Spirit to a cape-wearing-superhero, working on my intuitions for my whims and fancies. 

As time progressed and as I got older, my life changed – my priorities changed, my prayers changed and even the way I prayed changed. In the silence of my heart, I yearned to listen to the voice of God. And then, the Holy Spirit spoke. 

After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So, while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” (Jn 13:21-25).

This is a passage that I have read so many times, and have heard being preached on countless times. But this lent, preparing for Holy Triduum, Holy Spirit the Advocate and Helper gave me the understanding to glance a bit deep into these words. I saw in those words the God-Man, Jesus reclining with his chosen disciples. He looks as if he is a bit caught up in his thoughts. All of a sudden, like a mother anguishing over the thought of having to leave her children, He shares His heart with them. There must have been a divine silence surrounding them which prompted Simon not to utter any word, but to motion to John to ask Lord who He was speaking about. 

In those couple of verses, God gave me a glimpse of His motherly heart. A heart which forever wants to be united with his children; a heart which despairs at the thought of leaving the children alone. It is no wonder that as he left this earth and ascended the thrones of heaven, he sent his equal – the Holy Spirit to be with us, to be with me and you forever. He knows – that the Martha in me needs Him to strengthen me as a run about cooking and cleaning and scrubbing each waking day; as I wipe mucky faces and clean grubby little hands over and over again, multiple times a day; and as I sit and stand and breastfeed a crying baby while giving a hug to one of the other little imps who have decided he needs a cuddle at that very moment itself. I need Him! To call me by my name and remind me just as he did to Martha here on earth. “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things” (Lk 10:12). I need Him to call me by my name just as he called Mary outside the tomb telling me that He sees me where I am, just as I am – ^“Jesus said to her, “Mary!”” (Jn 20:16). On occasions, I need the helper promised to lift me from the darkness that envelopes my soul, and I need His hands to guide me to sit down in silence when I’m overwhelmed. As my to-do list grows longer and daily chores seems never ending, I need him, my Holy Spirit to remind me that I am chosen and redeemed in Jesus – and that alone matters. 

We see, but sometimes we fail to notice what is right in front of us even with eyes wide open. But when the Holy Spirit, the helper, opens our eyes, we discover the divine in the ordinary. Those words that we skimmed through a hundred times before, now stands out to us revealing a new meaning. That same song which we have listened so many times, suddenly starts singing of a new love.

And those little cheeks we kiss everyday becomes that cheeks of the one who was bruised and beaten for us. How will I thank the Lord for his endless mercy, for His sending not only His Son, but also the Holy Spirit to be with me for ever and ever.   

Mahima Anthraper, is a home-educating mother of three living in Southampton, UK with her husband Joseph. She has been active in JY since her school days and was part of the previous JY UK National Council.