A poem captures one U.S. Catholic reader’s vision the Holy Spirit in today’s church.

Guest blog post by John Chuchman

I see the Holy Spirit in the Church

as defined at Vatican II,

The People of God,

not just the hierarchy.

 

I see the Holy Spirit driving us ALL to be ONE

not in structure, organization, culture, or practice,

but as Jesus, in Love and Forgiveness.

 

I see the Holy Spirit driving us ALL to be HOLY

not in common external signs of piety,

but in the pursuit of internal Spiritual Growth.

 

I see the Holy Spirit driving us ALL to be TRULY CATHOLIC

not as members of one universal organization,

but reaching out to serve ALL peoples of the world,

especially the marginalized.

 

I see the Holy Spirit as APOSTOLIC

not in physical lineage to the Apostles,

but living in the Holy Spirit as bestowed on them.

 

I see the Holy Spirit driving us ALL to be ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC, APOSTOLIC

not in a limiting or exclusive sense,

as prescribed by the hierarchy,

but in an Expanding and Inclusive sense,

as modeled by Jesus.

 

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John Chuchman is a U.S. Catholic reader and published poet from Central Lake, Michigan.

To share your answer to the question, “Where do you see the Holy Spirit in the church of today?” submit a 200-500 word reflection to onlineeditor@uscatholic.org.

Guest blog posts express the views of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of U.S. Catholic, its editors, or the Claretians.