The Spirit of the Lord came fleetingly to the prophets, inspiring their interventions. The prophet who wrote under the name of Isaiah after the exile announced the ministry of Our lord with great power. We have only to consider a couple of points of the agenda he foretold. To proclaim liberty to captives: the Pharisees, by their anxiety over the legitimacy of paying tribute jeopardised any peaceful coexistence with the Romans, the occupying power. Once Jesus had pointed out that rendering to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s is not to betray the Living God the people could lead their lives peaceably enjoying their freedom of worship. We may see betrayal of the high ideal of marriage where divorce is permitted. On the other hand, honouring of the marriage bond by lifelong fidelity would cause righteousness to flourish. Human dignity would be shown forth by this reflection of the divine fidelity. Most of all, righteousness and praise spring forth in the proclamation of the new law, the law of love. Now there is no need to debate what the greatest commandment may be: we know in the depths of our hearts that we are made for God and that love of God and of neighbour is salvation. One of the most beautiful examples of the demands of love is loving care children take of their parents in old age.
In the second reading St Paul warns us not to quench the Spirit. The priests and Levites’ delegation to the Baptist seem to be sent for just such a purpose, a self assumed right to watch over a renewal of the gift of prophecy after centuries of silence. He baptised so that the who already stood among them might be made known. He was made known to those who had the humility to accept John’s baptism: the rest rejected God’s purpose for themselves and were not baptised by John. Even at the end of Jesus’ ministry they refused to commit themselves as to whether the baptism of John was from heaven or merely of man.
John the evangelist shares the teaching of the other evangelists: He saw the Spirit descend and abide on Jesus and bore witness that he is the one who is to baptise with the Holy Spirit. The liturgy today encourages us to recognise the Holy Spirit at work within us. With Our Lady we await the coming of Our Lord with love beyond all telling. We announce his coming and proclaim his presence in Word and Sacrament, in our care and reverence for one another, especially the poor and the weak, the sick and the vulnerable. The joy we experience as we celebrate the mystery of the Nativity of Our Divine Lord is an indication of the presence of the Holy Spirit. The same Holy Spirit who enables us to proclaim Jesus as Lord also inspires us to watch in prayer and exult in praise so that we may be alert to the many ways in which our saviour draws us to himself.