Who Needs a Superhero?

“God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life. For this reason, at every time and in every place, God draws close to man. He calls man to seek him, to know him, to love him with all his strength. He calls together all men, scattered and divided by sin, into the unity of his family, the Church. To accomplish this, when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son as Redeemer and Savior. In his Son and through him, he invites men to become, in the Holy Spirit, his adopted children and thus heirs of his blessed life.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1)

Many people think the Holy Spirit is a Christian’s super power. The Holy Spirit guided the authors of Sacred Scripture as well as descended upon the Apostles who were able to do marvelous things. The Holy Spirit has been likened to an impersonal “force” similar to the one from the Star Wars saga. The Holy Spirit is not a “power.” Theologically, a power is a rank of angels and since the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, he ranks higher than the angels-He is God. The Holy Spirit is not a “force,” but an encourager, a protector, and an advocate. As the Catechism states, in the Holy Spirit we become the adopted sons and daughters of God. As sons and daughters of God, through the Holy Spirit, we can call God “Abba, Father” (Galatians 4:6).

It is through the Holy Spirit that we come to know God and His will for our lives. How many times did the apostles and followers of Jesus misunderstand His teachings and parables? How many times did they ask Him for signs and wonders? Yet once the Holy Spirit is poured out upon the Apostles, they understand all that was spoken to them (John 14:26) and they proclaim it to the ends of the earth. In a way it would seem as if the Apostles received a super power, because their uncertainty is replaced by wisdom and knowledge; their fears are replaced by fortitude. Peter, who once made the decision to deny our Lord was filled with counsel and courage to lead the early Church. Through their mission, many came to believe with piety and fear of the Lord. What others see as super powers, are given to us as gifts-gifts that keep on giving. (See Galatians 5:22-23) So I ask you, who needs a Super Hero?