Over the weekends in this issue of Thrive we will be reflecting on the momentous and supremely glorious gift of the Holy Spirit. This gift, which we believers in Christ now enjoy, was anticipated all the way through the Old Testament. Our reflections will focus on these images that heralded the outpouring of the Spirit. We begin with that of the dove, a profound and tender symbol of the Holy Spirit. It first appears in Genesis 1:2, where the Spirit of God is described as “hovering over the waters,” a picture of a gentle yet powerful presence poised to conquer the forces of chaos and to implement God’s order. This same motif re-emerges at Jesus’ baptism when the Spirit descends “like a dove” upon him (Luke 3:22), signifying divine affirmation and empowerment for his mission. The image of the dove expresses the idea that God does not work, as though frustrated, through force and domination. Rather, he works peacefully with certitude as he unleashes his unthwartable power. It conveys the Spirit’s way of working with us: quietly, pervasively, and regeneratively. God does not push and coerce. He invites us and draws us with gentleness, and as we yield we are transformed. In biblical imagery, the hovering dove reminds us that the Spirit is always near, poised and brooding over the raw and chaotic places of our lives, ready to bring forth new creation. It is an invitation to openness: to let the Spirit settle upon us and transform the chaos within into beauty and fruitfulness.
Invite the Holy Spirit to rest upon you and transform you.
Read Genesis 1:2 and Matthew 3:13-17.
