Holy Spirit as Living Water – Cyril of Jerusalem

This wonderful meditation on the Holy Spirit as living water, so called by Jesus in his conversation with the Samaritan woman, is taken from a catechetical instruction by St. Cyril of Jerusalem who was bishop of Jerusalem around the year 360 AD.

The water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of living water, welling up into eternal life [John 4:14].  

The Living Water of the Spirit

This is a new kind of water, a living, leaping water, welling up for those who are worthy. But why did Christ call the grace of the Spirit water?

Because all things are dependent on water; plants and animals have their origin in water. Water comes down from heaven as rain, and although it is always the same in itself, it produces many different effects, one in the palm tree, another in the vine, and so on throughout the whole of creation. It does not come down, now as one thing, now as another, but while remaining essentially the same, it adapts itself to the needs of every creature that receives it.

Always the Same, yet different

In the same way the Holy Spirit, whose nature is always the same, simple and indivisible, apportions grace to each man as he wills. Like a dry tree which puts forth shoots when watered, the soul bears the fruit of holiness when repentance has made it worthy of receiving the Holy Spirit.

Although the Spirit never changes, the effects of his action, by the will of God and in the name of Christ, are both many and marvelous.

The Spirit makes one man a teacher of divine truth, inspires another to prophesy, gives another the power of casting out devils, enables another to interpret holy Scripture. The Spirit strengthens one man’s self-control, shows another how to help the poor, teaches another to fast and lead a life of asceticism, makes another oblivious to the needs of the body, trains another for martyrdom.

His action is different in different people, but the Spirit himself is always the same. In each person, Scripture says, the Spirit reveals his presence in a particular way for the common good.

The Spirit as a stream of Light

The Spirit comes gently and makes himself known by his fragrance. He is not felt as a burden, for he is light, very light. Rays of light and knowledge stream before him as he approaches.

The Spirit comes with the tenderness of a true friend and protector to save, to heal, to teach, to counsel, to strengthen, to console. The Spirit comes to enlighten the mind first of the one who receives him, and then, through him, the minds of others as well.

As light strikes the eyes of a man who comes out of darkness into the sunshine and enables him to see clearly things he could not discern before, so light floods the soul of the man counted worthy of receiving the Holy Spirit and enables him to see things beyond the range of human vision, thing hitherto undreamed of.

For more resources on the HOLY SPIRIT, see the PENTECOST section of the Crossroads Initiative Library.

This meditation on the Holy Spirit as living water an an excerpt from the Catechetical Oration of St. Cyril of Jerusalem (Cat. 16 De Spiritu Sancto 1, 11-12, 16: PG 33, 931-935, 939-942).  It appears in the Roman Liturgy’s office of Readings for Monday of the 7^th week of Easter to prepare us for the great Feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.  This image of the Holy Spirit as living water comes from Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan Woman at the well in John 4:14.

Banner/featured image of living water by Luca Recchia on Scopio. Used with permission.