Reminder of the Mystery. Truth-speaker. Great bridge-builder. The space of love between everything. Inherent victory. The welcoming within.
These are just a few of the descriptions which Father Richard Rohr has used to describe the Holy Spirit. He wrote them when he went on a retreat as he turned 65 years old (what a great idea for a birthday celebration) – and during this time, wrote 65 descriptions of the Holy Spirit.
I heard him read these out, in a sermon on Pentecost Sunday, as part of his podcast series “Homilies“, this one on Pentecost Sunday., 4th June 2017. If you listen to the podcast, you can hear him introduce and read them out, in his deep, calming voice which invites meditation. (Personal note: his voice in audiobooks and recorded talks is a great calmer if you are feeling a little unsettled or anxious – and yet what he says also gently stirs deeper questions and responses)
“The Holy Spirit is not something to be believed intellectually – it must be experienced as a dynamic flow of life and love through your very body.”
– Fr Richard Rohr
He also observes that all the images in the Bible of the Holy Spirit are movement – descending dove, fire, flowing water, wind…..
Here are a few of the phrases he used to describe the Holy Spirit, which he invited those listening to consider which ones rang true in their own experience:
Pure gift of God
indwelling presence
promise of the Father
eternal praise
inner defence-attorney
inner anointing
reminder of the mystery
homing device ticking away inside of you guiding you home
implanted peace-maker
overcomer of the gap
magnetic centre, God compass
inner breath
divine DNA, given glory
hidden love of God
implanted hope
seething desire
fire of live and love
sacred pacemeaker
the non-violence of God
seal of the incarnation
the firstfruits of everything
father and mother of orphans
truth-speaker
God’s secret plan
great bridge-builder
warmer of hearts
the space of love between everything
flowing water, wind of change
descending dove, cloud of unknowing
and cloud of knowing
uncreated grace
deepest level of our longing
attentive heart
sacred wounding
holy healing
softener of our spirit
great compassion
generosity of God
inherent victory
the universal sadness
the universal joy
God’s tears, God’s happiness
the welcoming within
the new and eternal covenant
the covenant written in our hearts
jealous lover
holy Spirit, you who are the desiring of God and have chosen to live within each one of us.
