The Meeting Point 

The Creed says Jesus was “made flesh by the Holy Spirit.” 

Strictly speaking, Jesus was made flesh equally by the Father, Son, and Spirit. Whenever the Three Persons act “outside” themselves on created reality instead of just interacting with each other as Father, Son, and Spirit, they always act as One. But because of the distinct roles that define their relationship with each other, we “attribute to,” or “associate with” each Person certain things they do. For example, we attribute “creation” to the Father; “redemption” to the Son made flesh in Jesus, and “sanctification” to the Holy Spirit. 

Because the Spirit’s role within the Trinity is to be the “bond of union” between the Three Persons, it is appropriate to say the Spirit’s role when Jesus was “made flesh by the Holy Spirit” was to be the bond of unity between his divinity and humanity. Applied to us, it is “in the Spirit” as a meeting point that we experience ourselves “made one flesh” with Jesus, sharing his divine Life. We know we are God’s children because, “God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’” We know we live, not only “in the flesh” but “in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in us.” We are baptized “with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11; Galatians 4:6; Romans 8:9). 

ACTION: Consciously act as human and divine. 

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, be God’s gift to me. Make me a gift to God. 

— Fr. David M. Knight

View today’s Mass readings on the USCCB website here

Easter season is the time to focus on the Holy Spirit. Starting on Easter Sunday, we will look carefully at how the Spirit is proclaimed, invoked, and presented to us in the Mass. Lex orandi, lex credendi: “As the Church prays, so she believes.”

After that, we will reflect on the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2; Galatians 5:22), and at how the Spirit enters the life of those who believe.

As you read these reflections, ask for the gift of Understanding. Ask to really understand what you believe, what you see and hear at Mass. Go deeper into understanding the Mass than you ever have before. We experience the Faith when we become aware of its mystery. We hope you reflect deeply on the Mass and Gifts of the Holy Spirit, and find yourself more and more drawn into the mysteries of our Lord in the Mass and in His Gifts.