Feb. 8 - The Spread of the Holy Spirit

From the First Lesson for this day, Ezekiel 39:21-29

I love the way God restores things. He doesn't overlook sin. He doesn't soft-sell it. He doesn't "okay" it. He judges and destroys it.

On the other side of that judgment and destruction is restoration.

In God's restoration of Israel, He promises the Holy Spirit: "Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel."

After the restoration of Israel after the Captivity, there is little or no record of action of the Holy Spirit in Israel. Not in the rebuilding of the Temple. Not in the rebellion of the Maccabees. Not in the rise of the Herodians.

The action of the Holy Spirit is seen again at the Feast of Pentecost in roughly 33 AD, 50 short days after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

St. Peter cites the Prophet Joel ("I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh") in the Acts of the Apostles. But he could have easily cited the words of Ezekiel as well: "I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them..."

To me, this just demonstrates one more time that the fulfillment of the Prophecies is in Christ. The judgment of the world was laid on Him and the restoration of souls comes by the Holy Spirit.

Thank God for His consistent faithfulness to His people and to heathens like me!