REST AREA

“But the dove could find no place to alight and perch, and it returned to him in the ark.” –Genesis 8:9

Mass Readings: February 15
First: Leviticus 19:1-2,11-18; Resp: Psalm 19:8-10,15;Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46

After forty days and nights of the flood, Noah sent out a raven. Then he sent out a dove three times. On the final occasion, the dove did not return to the ark, for it had found a place to rest (Gn 8:12). That meant destruction had ended and re-creation had begun.

The dove resting on Jesus at His baptism meant the Spirit was beginning to re-create the face of the earth (Ps 104:30). “When you see the Spirit descend and rest on Someone, it is He Who is to baptize with the Holy Spirit” (Jn 1:33). When the Spirit comes to rest on us, we become part of the new creation by the Spirit’s power. “The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him: a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a Spirit of counsel and of strength, a Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord” (Is 11:2). This passage from Isaiah inspired the prayer the bishop or priest prayed over us at our confirmation. The Church prayed for the Spirit to rest on us. Then we became a threat to the devil, and therefore persecutable.

“Happy are you when you are insulted for the sake of Christ, for then God’s Spirit in Its glory has come to rest on you” (1 Pt 4:14). “Come Holy Ghost, Creator blest, and in our hearts take up Thy rest.”

PRAYER: Lord, may I not merely have experiences of the Spirit, but may the Spirit rest on me.

PROMISE: “He saw perfectly; his sight was restored and he could see everything clearly.” –Mk 8:25

PRAISE: Sarah prayed for the Holy Spirit and the life of the Spirit in her was rekindled.