“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses.” (Acts 1:8)
Thoughts from Fr. David Colhour, CP
Looking at the bigger picture of Salvation History, you can see strong themes of how God empowers people. You see this in the Exodus story as God empowered a nation with the ability to walk away from their slavery. This same theme will occur as they move into the land, through the monarchies of David and Solomon, and even into the post-exile times with prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel who will motivate the people to call on the power of God to rebuild and to claim their new identity. Through God’s power, they have been restored.
You see the same power flowing through God’s son, Jesus. The Word made flesh uses the power of his Father to restore and redeem. The healings of people who can’t see or can’t walk or whose bodies exist in a way which contradict how the Father wants them to be are met with an empowerment which brings life. Jesus follows the tradition of the Scriptures by bringing power to those who lack. Jesus does what he sees his Father doing—He empowers.
After the Resurrection, as the Spirit descends on us, the empowerment we receive is the empowerment Jesus had which is in line with the empowerment of the Hebrew Scriptures. It is the empowerment to restore and redeem that which is good, right, worthy and true. This empowerment is not for personal gain. This empowerment is the power of God to build and proclaim God’s kingdom.
So the power we receive through Acts 1:8 is a power to gift others. It is most powerful when it inspires the human spirit. Then motivation, energy and determination become focused, and everyone can see and bear witness to the truth of that power. The power of the Spirit given to us today stands in line with the Biblical tradition. It is the power of God being present and testifying to truth.
