Isaiah 11:2d-3 (NIVUK)
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord –
3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.
The final advent gift of the Spirit to Jesus is the knowledge and fear of the Lord. Augustine of Hippo, one of the Early Church Fathers, is attributed as describing the Father as the Lover, the Son as the Beloved and the Spirit as the love between them. This bond between them is clear throughout the Gospels, even in the worst moments on the Cross. This is not a love we can summon up by dint of will, it comes through the Spirit’s gifting and our engagement with his gift through obedience.
We celebrate Christ’s Advent love – his love shown to us, and his love of the Father, in and through the Spirit! Spirit, grow the same love in us we pray.
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