Saturday, July 14, 2012

Christ's Spirit


We also have as our Paraclete our Lord Jesus Christ.  Although we are unable to see him bodily, we recollect what he did and taught in the body, as written down in the gospels.  If we commit ourselves with all care to sharing, reading, conferring with one another, and preserving these [deeds and teachings] in our heart and body, it is sure that we will easily overcome the hardships of this age -- as if the Lord were sojourning with us forever and consoling us.  If we love this Paraclete and keep his commandments, he will ask the Father, and he will give us another Paraclete -- that is, he will in his clemency pour forth the grace of his Spirit into our hearts, and it will gladden us in the expectation of our heavenly homeland in the midst of the adversities of our present exile.  Then we will be able to say with the prophet, According to the multitude of my sorrows in my heart, your paraclesis, that is, your consolations, O Lord, have gladdened my soul.

~ Bede the Venerable
in Homilies on the Gospels, Book II

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