Laying hands on someone’s head is not something we do on a normal basis in our daily lives. Yet it’s seen quite often in the New Testament, like today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles. We also see it during the celebration of the Sacraments of Confirmation and Ordination. Confession has it in a virtual, distant way with the priest holding his hands over the penitent’s head, and the priest holds his hands over the gifts during the Eucharistic Prayer at Mass.
Obviously this action of laying hands on a person’s head, or holding hands over someone or something has a special significance. In every case, the action is accompanied by a prayer calling down the Holy Spirit. This is made explicit in the first reading where it says, “Then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.” Ritual texts also make this clear, whether in the prayer itself or in the instructions accompanying the prayers.
The fact is that the Holy Spirit is truly our Advocate, the one who intercedes for us and brings the grace of God to us. It is through the working of the Holy Spirit that the Sacraments have their power. The gifts of bread and wine would not be transubstantiated into the Body and Blood of Christ except for the actions of the Holy Spirit. The forgiveness of sins would not happen except for the Holy Spirit wiping them away. Men would not before deacons, priests and bishops except for the Holy Spirit changing them. As we see in the reading from Acts, our baptisms wouldn’t be complete without the working of the Holy Spirit.
Over the next couple weeks, we are being prepared for the great celebration of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. A great practice of preparation might be to enter into the novena to the Holy Spirit, which traditionally runs from the Ascension of the Lord to Pentecost Sunday. Ascension has been moved to next Sunday, but the novena can still start this Thursday. You can find out more about the Pentecost Novena at Pray More Novenas.
The Holy Spirit wants to come to each of us. May we be open to it. Come Holy Spirit!
