The Spirit is the Ointment of Christ
Because He is called the oil of gladness, the joining together of many graces giving a sweet fragrance. God the Almighty Father anointed Him the Prince of priests, [Who was] both according to the Law anointed in the body, and in truth was full with the virtue of the Holy Spirit from the Father above the Law.
This is the oil of gladness, of which the prophet says: “God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.” Lastly, Peter says that Jesus was anointed with the Spirit, as you read: “Ye know that word which went through all Judea beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached, even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit.”
Nor is it wonderful if He have the oil of gladness, Who made those about to die rejoice, put off sadness from the world, destroyed the odour of sorrowful death. And so the Apostle says: “For we are the good odour of Christ to God;” certainly showing that he is speaking of spiritual things. But when the Son of God Himself says: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me,” He points out the ointment of the Spirit.[1]
The Spirit is the Light
“For with Thee is the fount of Life, and in Thy light we shall see light,” which means that with Thee, O God the Father Almighty, Who art the Fount of Life, in Thy Son Who is the Light, we shall see the light of the Holy Spirit. As the Lord Himself shows, saying: “Receive ye the Holy Spirit,” and elsewhere: “Virtue went out from Him.
“The light of Thy countenance has been sealed upon us, O Lord.” What is, then, the light that is sealed, but that of the seal of the Spirit, believing in Whom, “ye were sealed,” he says, “with the Holy Spirit of promise.””[2]
The evident glory of the Godhead is proved both by other arguments, and most especially by these four. God is known by these marks: either that He is without sin; or that He forgives sin; or that He is not a creature but the Creator; or that He does not give but receives worship.[3]
References
- ^1. Ambrose. On the Holy Spirit. NPNF 2/10:107. Christian Classics Ethereal Library. Accessed November 11, 2024. https://ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf210/npnf210.iv.ii.ii.x.html
- ^2. Ambrose. On the Holy Spirit. NPNF 2/10:112. Christian Classics Ethereal Library. Accessed November 11, 2024. https://ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf210/npnf210.iv.ii.ii.xv.html
- ^3. Ambrose. On the Holy Spirit. NPNF 2/10:154. Christian Classics Ethereal Library. Accessed November 11, 2024. https://ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf210/npnf210.iv.ii.iv.xviii.html