Holy Spirit as Wind: Settling In

I Corinthians 3:16

 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? ~ NRSV & NET

You realize, don’t you, that you are the temple of God, and God himself is present in you? ~ The Message

The Spirit that rushed out to the community of believers at Pentecost wasn't done with being personal or intimate either.

 As Spirit gives life, she makes herself at home. 

 (Note: you may be asking yourself: "Did she just say 'she' about the Holy Spirit?? Well, yes...I did. There is a tradition of referring to the Holy Spirit sometimes as 'she.' One of the reasons is that there was a somewhat loose history of connecting the Holy Spirit with the feminine "Wisdom" of the Old Testament.

 But also, another reason is because the Hebrew word "ruach" is feminine, something shared with many of the other ancient languages. The Greek word, "pneuma", is neuter. Now, I don't think the gender of a word necessary translates to the gender of God, but since I think "she" fits better with a God that gives life than "it," I'm going with "she," and will likely use that pronoun from time to time. It is just one way to show God's fullness - rather than simply thinking of God as only the male Father and Son. But absolutely you are entirely free to use "he" if you prefer!)

 Even that very idea of wondering the gender of the Holy Spirit reminds us that, just because the Spirit came in as a rushing wind, God wasn't finished with God's Spirit also being particular.

 She is a Spirit who dwells. Who moves into the neighborhood. 

 She lives in us, and she lives in our communities when we are gathered together.

 She stirs up questions in us even about such things as who God is, and "what's the deal with gender, anyway?"

 And she guides us to answers and to faith, even when there are no answers.

 The wind blew into town and has settled in.
Prayer: God, let your Spirit - whether he or she - dwell in me so that I may be a pleasing temple for you! Amen

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