It’s the same with job descriptions; although I suspect these can sometimes
be overblown so that maybe the less important the role, the grander the title.
I remember once being part of a planning group for a Seniors’ Church
Lunch. The co-ordinator looked over in
my direction and asked what I might like to do as the meal was served. Rather lamely I replied that I thought I
might manage to serve the gravy! Right,
she said, enthusiastically, we’ll put you down as the Gravy Operative! I was chuffed with my new title!
As we approach the season of Pentecost it’s worth reflecting on some of the
titles we give the Holy Spirit.
For centuries this member of the Trinity bore the name Holy Ghost. Yet that title, with its ambiguous phantom
overtones just doesn’t work today.
Greek, the language of the New Testament, often gives us options when it
comes to translation. Two helpful ones come in John 14.26 as Jesus promises the gift of the Holy Spirit for his
disciples; the words he uses can be taken either as Comforter or Helper.
Now, if the ministry of the Spirit is to enable us to have some sort of sense
that God is alongside us, then both these descriptions are immensely helpful.
God’s comfort isn’t about taking life easy and putting our feet up, rather it’s
the reassuring divine companionship we feel when we try to live with kindness
and generosity of spirit. It's always a
comfort to have that sort of encouragement in our lives – it keeps us going. The
Comforter also draws alongside us when we mess up, helping us to stand up
again when we fall over.
And to describe the Spirit as Helper encourages us to face the future
with hope, trusting in God’s strength to motivate us.
Pentecost is a season to celebrate our Alongside God, who is to us a Comforter and Helper.
Blog holiday next week
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