Wind. The Spirit is frequently symbolized as wind in the scriptures: the wind blowing through the valley of dry bones, reconnecting them and breathing new life into them (Ezechiel 37:4-10), the wind blowing through the house where the disciples were gathered at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). In John 3:8, Jesus says: The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. In these words, Jesus is saying to us, the Spirit is present among us in an invisible but very active way. We cannot control the Spirit’s presence, but we can experience the Spirit’s presence and activity in our lives and in our world.
Fire. Fire has the potential to destroy, purify and transform. So does the presence of the Spirit within us. He can help us to overcome the destructiveness of sin, purify us of ungodly behaviors, and transform us into the likeness of Christ. Fire also gives light. Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit to enlighten us about the true ways of God. He is our divine inner light. On Pentecost Sunday, the ‘tongues of fire’ which descended on the Apostles gave them the power to speak in many languages.
Water. Water like wind and fire has no definite shape, but it is the nourishing matrix of all life. Life on earth began in the seas and human life begins in the water of the womb. In Ezechiel 36:25-26, God promises that the people will be renewed in the Spirit as by a refreshing shower: “I will sprinkle clean water upon you . . .” In John 4:14, Jesus promises the Samaritan woman the gift of the Spirit through the metaphor of “living water”. In John 3:5, Jesus says to Nicodemus “Amen, Amen I say to you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit” (Jn 3:5). The church has taken these words to refer to the sacrament of baptism which destroys sin in us and floods us with the new life of God. The waters of baptism initiate us into the Church the Body of Christ and bestows on us the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Dove. When Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of a dove. In the story of the Great Flood (Gen 7-8), a dove was released by Noah returned to the Ark with an olive tree branch to show that the flood waters were receding. The dove image at Jesus’ baptism may have symbolized the end of the reign of sin and its destruction. The dove also symbolizes peace. In Jesus, harmony between heaven and earth would be restored and the waters of death would recede before him.
Advocate/Paraclete (John 15:5-15). This is a term used to connote a defender in court, a vindicator (Job 19:25). Jesus told his disciples not to worry what they would say in court, for he would grant them an Advocate who would inspire them as to what to say. The Advocate is also called the Spirit of Truth (Jn 16:14-26), the one who would lead the church into the fullness of the truth that Jesus came to bring. This Advocate is our comforter and guide as we journey through life.
Laying on of Hands. In the Acts of the Apostles the gesture of laying on of hands is usually associated with one or more persons praying for one or more persons for the imparting of the Spirit (Acts 8:17, 19:6). The laying on of hands gesture is also associated with ordination (1 Tim 4:14). Finally, the gesture was used when praying for healing of the sick (Acts 9:12).
`As light strikes the eyes of one who comes out of darkness into the sunshine and enables him to see clearly things he could not discern before, so light of the Spirit floods our souls and enables us to see clearly things
. . . beyond the range of human vision, things hitherto undreamed of.
St. Cyril of Jerusalem