3.2.    The action of the Holy Spirit in the life of Christ

            The Holy Spirit, who had worked with the Father and the Word in the creation and in the

various stages of revelation, worked in a new and very special way in the conception of Christ.

In the fullness of time, God Father revealed himself in a brand new way, that is, he revealed himself through his “only-begotten Son”, (Jn 1:18) spoke  in a singular way “through his Son”. (cf Heb 1:2) In harmony with the Father, beginning with the conception of Christ, the Holy Spirit inaugurated a new phase in salvific activity.

            The immaculate conception of Christ was the work of the Holy Trinity and the Immaculate Virgin Mary.  Each of the three divine persons acted according to their identity as Father, as Son-Word, and as Holy Spirit. As always, the initiative was on the part of the Father, who worked through the Holy Spirit “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow”. (Lk 1:35)  Mary, therefore, “was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.” (Mt 1:18)

            The scene of the consecration and solemn anointing of the Father with the Spirit or in the Spirit beside the Jordan is present in all the Gospels. Luke, for example, describes it as follows: “…while Jesus … was at prayer, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily shape, like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; my favor rests on you.'’ (Lk 3; 21-22)

            As Luke, again, tell us, “Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit through the wilderness, being tempted there by the devil for forty days.” (Lk 4:1) In the desert, Jesus victoriously overcomes “every kind of temptation” (Lk 4:13) and is confirmed in his life program of full docility to the Father. Far from accepting the proposals of the evil spirit, he fulfills perfectly the will of the Holy Spirit. Thus Jesus concludes in a brilliant way the period of immediate preparation for the ministry of his public life.

            The entire ministry of Jesus’ public life bears the stamp of the same dynamic found in  the  description of the victory of Jesus in the desert; that is, from the dynamic of total communion with the Father and unconditional adherence to the suggestions of the Spirit in seeking the good of humanity.

            After the phase in the desert, “Jesus, with the power of the Spirit in him, returned to Galilee”, (Lk 4:14) and began to teach and confirm his doctrine with miraculous words. The people exclaimed: “Here is a teaching that is new, … and with authority behind it: he gives orders even to unclean spirits and they obey him.” (Mk 1:27) In his preaching and all his works, Jesus was moved by the Father and by the Holy Spirit. Therefore the following type of insult was only a horrendous calumny: “This man is possessed by Beelzebul.” (Mk 3:22) “He is possessed by an unclean spirit.” (Mk 3:30 For the pure of heart, however, the reality was totally different, because Jesus chased out demons in total communion with the purest of spirits, that is, in perfect accord with the Holy Spirit.  In truth, with his spotless behavior, Jesus showed that the Reign of God had come. “But if it is through the Spirit of God that I cast out devils, then know that the kingdom of God has overtaken you.” (Mt 12:28)

            All the aspects of Jesus’ ministry are enlightened by the testimony of the way of life chosen for him by the Father and the Holy Spirit.  Jesus confidently and lovingly accepted and practiced the program of consecrated life, as obedient, chaste, poor, praying and missionary, proposed to him by the Father and by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus’ whole life was an expression of his very deep communion of love with the Father and the Holy Spirit. His obedient, chaste and poor way was chosen and witnessed by Jesus as the way most suited for living, in his flesh, the relationship of special love with the Father and with the Holy Spirit.