I am grateful to many people for their role in making me who I am. For setting me on the path of the Catholic Faith, for encouraging me to even consider my Jesuit vocation, for giving me some bit of wisdom along the way. Most of us are likely blessed with such individuals in our lives. Many of those people are likely still living wonderful lives of faith, but perhaps some have fallen away. Yet this should never cause us to despair or doubt where we are.
Paul is confident “that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6). When Paul says this, he is not thinking of the one who baptized, or called to conversion, or even the priests and bishops who continue to minister to the Philippians. Ultimately, it is the Holy Spirit who remains in each of them, and in each of us, until the Second Coming. Without the Holy Spirit, none of us could ever profess our faith in Jesus, no matter who helped us. Knowing the Spirit is at work in us, we may go forward in confidence until Christ returns.