Dare to drink One Spirit

Wind, Breath and Spirit are forces which the texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary proclaim in the Divine action of delivering peace and gifts of service to all peoples. The power to act in the Mission of God is a gift breathed into our lives by the Spirit. Dick Hauser SJ celebrates the culmination of the Paschal Mystery in the launching of the Age of the Spirit in which we live. Friar Jude Winkler comments on the some of the tensions in religious observance of this Divine Act. The historian Luke, author of the Book of Acts, and the mystic Evangelist John describe this Wind and Breath on different days. Luke sets the account of wind, fire and many tongues fifty days after Easter (Pentecost) and John tells of Jesus breath of peace and forgiveness on Easter Sunday. Paul addresses the people of Corinth about the Holy Spirit, Friar Jude reminds us, to correct some misunderstanding in the people who have confused some ideas from Stoicism concerning the devaluation of things of the flesh with declarations that the Spirit is more important than Jesus. Paul is clever to build on Stoic ideas of a plan for the world in which we all have a role to his presentation of the Body of Christ wherein we all are gifted in unique ways to serve others and the Body. In this service of love and forgiveness we will dare to work so that all will drink the Spirit from one cup