June 8: The Day of the Lord

It is natural to want to be happy and comfortable in this life, but we know that nothing guarantees this, especially if we are trying to achieve something difficult. And, further, we know that no matter what we do, or neglect to do, hardship, suffering, and distress will come our way; they are inevitable.

On occasion, we may feel no need of a “Comforter,” but we are assured that when the tide turns, when things start to go “sour,” we will discover a source of strength we never knew was ours: the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. That reassurance, even now, is a source of strength. Jesus Himself says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

What kind of comfort can we expect from the Comforter? As we have mentioned here before, look more closely at the word “comfort.” Modern usage has weakened its meaning to "softness" and gentle touches; in fact it has come to mean just about the opposite of its real meaning. The word actually comes from the Latin confortare, which means “to strengthen,” and fortis itself means “strong.” Comfort, therefore, means strength! The Holy Spirit, we might say, will “put some steel in our spine,” will make us robust, and will drive us forward with the aid of His own strength.

***

An early Christian writer said that “the Word became flesh so that God could become accustomed to living in us, and that we could become accustomed to living in God.” On this great Feast of Pentecost, we celebrate the arrival of the promised Comforter, the Holy Spirit of God, who comes not just for a “visit,” but to remain with us forever.