The Coming of the Holy Spirit in the Light of the Old

Testament PromisesGeneral audience of

May 31, 1989

After the announcements made After the announcements made by Jesus to the apostles on the by Jesus to the apostles on the

day before his passion and day before his passion and death, we find recorded in death, we find recorded in

Luke's Gospel the promise of Luke's Gospel the promise of their proximate fulfillment. their proximate fulfillment.

"Behold, I send the promise of "Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay my Father upon you; but stay

in the city, until you are clothed in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high" with power from on high"

(Lk 24:49). (Lk 24:49).

At the beginning of the Acts of At the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles, Luke repeats this the Apostles, Luke repeats this

same admonition: same admonition: "While staying with them he "While staying with them he charged them not to depart charged them not to depart

from Jerusalem, but to wait for from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father" the promise of the Father"

(Acts 1:4).(Acts 1:4).

In speaking of the promise of In speaking of the promise of the Father, Jesus indicates the the Father, Jesus indicates the

coming of the Holy Spirit, coming of the Holy Spirit, already foretold in the Old already foretold in the Old

Testament. Testament. We read in the book of the We read in the book of the

prophet Joel: prophet Joel: "And it shall come to pass "And it shall come to pass

afterward, that I will pour out afterward, that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons my spirit on all flesh; your sons

and your daughters shall and your daughters shall prophesy; your old men shall prophesy; your old men shall

dream dreams and your young dream dreams and your young men shall see visions. Even men shall see visions. Even upon the menservants and upon the menservants and

maidservants in those days, I maidservants in those days, I will pour out my spirit" will pour out my spirit"

(Joel 3:1-2). (Joel 3:1-2).

St. Peter refers to this text in his St. Peter refers to this text in his first discourse of Pentecost.first discourse of Pentecost. St. Peter

In speaking of the In speaking of the "promise "promise of the Father," of the Father,"

Jesus also referred to the Jesus also referred to the announcement of the announcement of the

prophets, significant even prophets, significant even though generic. though generic.

Jesus' announcements at the Jesus' announcements at the Last Supper are explicit and Last Supper are explicit and

direct. direct. If after the resurrection he If after the resurrection he

refers to the Old Testament, refers to the Old Testament, it is a sign that he wishes to it is a sign that he wishes to emphasize the continuity of emphasize the continuity of pneumatological truth in the pneumatological truth in the

whole of revelation. whole of revelation. It means that Christ brings It means that Christ brings to fulfillment the promises to fulfillment the promises

already made by God in the already made by God in the old covenant.old covenant.

The prophet Ezekiel gives The prophet Ezekiel gives particular expression to these particular expression to these

promises promises (36:22-28). (36:22-28).

Through the prophet God Through the prophet God announced the revelation of his announced the revelation of his own holiness, which had been own holiness, which had been

profaned by the sins of the Chosen profaned by the sins of the Chosen People, especially by the sin of People, especially by the sin of

idolatry. idolatry. He also announced that he will He also announced that he will again assemble Israel, purifying again assemble Israel, purifying

her from all stain. her from all stain. And then he promises: And then he promises: "A new "A new heart I will give you, and a heart I will give you, and a

new spirit I will put within you. new spirit I will put within you. I will take out of your flesh the I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my heart of flesh. I will put my

spirit with you, and cause you spirit with you, and cause you to walk in my statutes.... You to walk in my statutes.... You shall be my people, and I will shall be my people, and I will

be your God" be your God" (Ez 36:26-28).(Ez 36:26-28).

The Vision of Ezekiel

Ezekiel's prophecy, Ezekiel's prophecy, with the promise of the gift of the Spirit, with the promise of the gift of the Spirit, makes more precise Jeremiah's famous makes more precise Jeremiah's famous

prophecy on the new covenant: prophecy on the new covenant: "Behold the days are coming, says the "Behold the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant Lord, when I will make a new covenant

with the house of Israel and the house of with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.... Judah....

I will put my law within them, and I will I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts. write it upon their hearts.

I will be their God, and they shall be my I will be their God, and they shall be my people" people"

(Jer 31:31, 33). (Jer 31:31, 33).

In this text the prophet emphasizes that this In this text the prophet emphasizes that this new covenant will be different from the new covenant will be different from the

previous one—previous one—from that which was linked to the liberation from that which was linked to the liberation

of Israel from the bondage of Egypt.of Israel from the bondage of Egypt.

Jeremiah

Before going to the Father Before going to the Father shortly before the day of shortly before the day of

Pentecost, Jesus recalled the Pentecost, Jesus recalled the promises of the prophets. promises of the prophets.

He had particularly in mind the He had particularly in mind the eloquent texts of Ezekiel and eloquent texts of Ezekiel and

Jeremiah which explicitly refer Jeremiah which explicitly refer to the new covenant. to the new covenant.

That prophetic announcement That prophetic announcement and promise of and promise of

"putting a new spirit within "putting a new spirit within them" them"

is addressed to the heart, is addressed to the heart, to man's interior, to man's interior, spiritual essence. spiritual essence.

The result of this insertion of a new The result of this insertion of a new spirit will be the placing of God's spirit will be the placing of God's

law within man law within man ("within them") ("within them")

and therefore a profound bond of a and therefore a profound bond of a spiritual and moral nature. spiritual and moral nature.

This will be the essence of the new This will be the essence of the new law infused into the human heart law infused into the human heart

(indita),(indita), as St. Thomas says as St. Thomas says (cf. (cf. Summa Theol.,Summa Theol., I-II, q. 106, a. 1), I-II, q. 106, a. 1), in reference to the prophet Jeremiah in reference to the prophet Jeremiah

and to St. Paul, following in the and to St. Paul, following in the steps of St. Augustine steps of St. Augustine

(cf. (cf. De Spiritu et littera,De Spiritu et littera, cc. 17, 21, cc. 17, 21, 24: PL 44, 218, 224, 225).24: PL 44, 218, 224, 225). St. Thomas Acquinas

According to Ezekiel's prophecy, According to Ezekiel's prophecy, it is not merely a case of the law of it is not merely a case of the law of God infused into the human soul, God infused into the human soul,

but rather of the gift of the Spirit of but rather of the gift of the Spirit of God. God.

Jesus announced the proximate Jesus announced the proximate fulfillment of this stupendous fulfillment of this stupendous

prophecy: prophecy: the Holy Spirit, author of the new law, the Holy Spirit, author of the new law,

and himself the new law, will be and himself the new law, will be present and active in human hearts. present and active in human hearts. "You know him, for he dwells with "You know him, for he dwells with

you, and will be in you" you, and will be in you" (Jn 14:17). (Jn 14:17).

On the evening after his resurrection, On the evening after his resurrection, in presenting himself to the apostles in presenting himself to the apostles assembled in the upper room, Christ assembled in the upper room, Christ

said to them, said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit" "Receive the Holy Spirit"

(Jn 20:22).(Jn 20:22).

The The "outpouring of the "outpouring of the Spirit,"Spirit," therefore, does therefore, does

not merely imply the not merely imply the "placing,""placing," the writing of the writing of

the divine law in the the divine law in the depths of man's spiritual depths of man's spiritual

essence. essence. By virtue of Christ's By virtue of Christ's

redemptive Pasch it also redemptive Pasch it also effects the gift of a divine effects the gift of a divine

Person: Person: the Holy Spirit is the Holy Spirit is "given""given"

to the apostles to the apostles (cf. Jn 14:16) (cf. Jn 14:16)

that he may that he may "dwell""dwell" in in them them

(cf. Jn 14:17). (cf. Jn 14:17).

It is a gift in which God It is a gift in which God communicates himself to man communicates himself to man

in the intimate mystery of in the intimate mystery of divinity, divinity,

so that the latter, so that the latter, sharing in the divine nature, sharing in the divine nature,

in the trinitarian life, in the trinitarian life, may bear spiritual fruit. may bear spiritual fruit.

This gift is therefore the basis This gift is therefore the basis of all the supernatural gifts, as of all the supernatural gifts, as

St. Thomas explains St. Thomas explains (cf. (cf. Summa Theol.,Summa Theol., I, q. 38, a. 2). I, q. 38, a. 2).

It is the root of sanctifying It is the root of sanctifying grace which sanctifies grace which sanctifies

precisely through "participation precisely through "participation in the divine nature" in the divine nature"

(cf. 2 Pet 1:4). (cf. 2 Pet 1:4).

It is clear that this sanctification It is clear that this sanctification implies a moral transformation implies a moral transformation

of the human spirit. of the human spirit.

Thus what was expressed by the Thus what was expressed by the prophets as prophets as

"putting God's law in the "putting God's law in the heart" heart"

is confirmed, clarified and is confirmed, clarified and enriched in meaning in the new enriched in meaning in the new

dimension of the dimension of the

"outpouring of the Spirit." "outpouring of the Spirit."

On the lips of Jesus and in the On the lips of Jesus and in the gospel texts the promise gospel texts the promise

acquires the fullness of meaning: acquires the fullness of meaning:

the gift of the Person of the the gift of the Person of the Paraclete.Paraclete.

This outpouring, this gift of the This outpouring, this gift of the Spirit, also has as its purpose Spirit, also has as its purpose

the consolidation of the the consolidation of the apostles' mission when the apostles' mission when the

Church makes her first Church makes her first appearance in history, and later appearance in history, and later

throughout the whole throughout the whole development of the apostolic development of the apostolic

mission. mission. Indeed, when taking leave of the Indeed, when taking leave of the

apostles Jesus told them, apostles Jesus told them, "You will be 'clothed with "You will be 'clothed with

power from on high'" power from on high'" (Lk 24:49). (Lk 24:49).

"You shall receive power "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in shall be my witnesses in

Jerusalem and in all Judea Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends and Samaria and to the ends

of the earth" of the earth" (Acts 1:8)(Acts 1:8)

"You shall be witnesses": "You shall be witnesses": the apostles had already heard the apostles had already heard

this during the farewell discourse this during the farewell discourse (cf. Jn 15:27). (cf. Jn 15:27).

In that same discourse Jesus had In that same discourse Jesus had linked their human, firsthand and linked their human, firsthand and historical witness to him with the historical witness to him with the

witness of the Holy Spirit: witness of the Holy Spirit: "He will bear witness to me" "He will bear witness to me"

(Jn 15:26). (Jn 15:26).

Therefore, Therefore, "in the witness of "in the witness of the Spirit of truth, the the Spirit of truth, the

human testimony of the human testimony of the apostles will find its apostles will find its strongest support. strongest support.

And subsequently it will also And subsequently it will also find therein the hidden find therein the hidden

foundation of its foundation of its continuation among the continuation among the generations of Christ's generations of Christ's

disciples and believers who disciples and believers who succeed one another down succeed one another down

the ages" the ages" (DV 5).(DV 5).

Then and later, it was a Then and later, it was a question of bringing into question of bringing into being the kingdom of God being the kingdom of God as understood by Jesus. as understood by Jesus.

Indeed, in the same Indeed, in the same conversation prior to the conversation prior to the ascension into heaven, he ascension into heaven, he

again insisted with the again insisted with the apostles that this kingdom apostles that this kingdom

(Acts 1:3) (Acts 1:3)

is to be understood in its is to be understood in its universal and universal and

eschatological sense. eschatological sense. It should not be It should not be

understood as a merely understood as a merely temporal temporal

"kingdom of Israel" "kingdom of Israel" (Acts 1:6), (Acts 1:6),

which they still had in which they still had in mind.mind.

At the same time Jesus At the same time Jesus charged the apostles to charged the apostles to

remain in Jerusalem after the remain in Jerusalem after the ascension. ascension.

It is there that "they will It is there that "they will receive power from on high"; receive power from on high"; and there the Holy Spirit will and there the Holy Spirit will

descend on them. descend on them. Once again the bond and Once again the bond and

continuity between the old and continuity between the old and new covenants is emphasized. new covenants is emphasized. Jerusalem, the point of arrival Jerusalem, the point of arrival of the history of the People of of the history of the People of God in the old covenant, must God in the old covenant, must

now become the departure now become the departure point of the history of the point of the history of the People of God of the new People of God of the new

covenant, that is, the Church.covenant, that is, the Church.

Jerusalem was chosen Jerusalem was chosen by Christ himself as the by Christ himself as the place of the fulfillment place of the fulfillment

of his messianic mission of his messianic mission (cf. Lk 9:51; 13:33). (cf. Lk 9:51; 13:33).

It was the place of his It was the place of his death and resurrection death and resurrection

("Destroy this ("Destroy this temple, and in three temple, and in three

days I will raise it days I will raise it up"up": : Jn 2:19), Jn 2:19),

and the place of the and the place of the redemption. redemption.

With the Pasch of Jerusalem the With the Pasch of Jerusalem the "time of Christ""time of Christ" is prolonged in is prolonged in

the the "time of the Church": "time of the Church":

the decisive moment will be the the decisive moment will be the day of Pentecost. day of Pentecost.

"Thus it is written that the "Thus it is written that the Christ should suffer and on Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance dead, and that repentance

and forgiveness of sins and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his should be preached in his

name to all nations, beginning name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem" from Jerusalem"

(Lk 24:46-47). (Lk 24:46-47).

This beginning will take This beginning will take place under the action place under the action of the Holy Spirit who, of the Holy Spirit who,

at the beginning of the at the beginning of the Church, Church,

as the Creator Spirit as the Creator Spirit

(Veni, Creator Spiritus)(Veni, Creator Spiritus)

prolongs the work of prolongs the work of the first creation when the first creation when

the Spirit of God the Spirit of God

"hovered over the "hovered over the waters" waters"

(Gen 1:2).(Gen 1:2).