Acts 8:5-8,14-17,
Psalm 66:1-7,16,20,
1 Peter 3:15-18,
John 14:15-21 Full Readings
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
On this sixth Sunday of Easter, we see the anticipation of the Coming of the Holy Spirit by Jesus in the Gospel, which invites us to prepare our hearts to welcome the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Jesus told his Apostles:“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept…” John 14:15–17
This is a promise to us that after Jesus has ascended to heaven He will not leave us like orphans but he will send us an Advocate or Paraclete: the Holy Spirit and this Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth. This is a way of saying bye bye to His Apostles as he is soon ascending to heaven.
Only in John is the Spirit whom the Father will send called ‘the Advocate’ or ‘the Paraclete’ both with similar meanings. Advocate means someone ‘called to one’s side’ as a helper, principally as a defender in a lawsuit. The word ‘Paraclete’ also suggests comfort and strength, as implied in the quality paraclesis or perseverance.
In the discourse after the Last Supper, when Jesus is preparing his disciples for their future task, there are four separate sayings about the Paraclete. Firstly, the Paraclete is sent both by Jesus and by the Father, but always from the Father’s side. Secondly, the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, will teach the disciples everything and lead them into all truth, witnessing to the Father. Thirdly, the Paraclete is ‘another Paraclete/Advocate’, that is, other than Jesus, who will make Jesus present when Jesus is no longer physically with them. Fourthly, the close link and interplay between these three figures gives us not only the beginnings of the theology of the Trinity, but also a lasting confidence that Jesus is never absent from his Church. With the guidance and patronage of the Paraclete the Church enters more and more deeply into the understanding of the divine mystery.
Jesus speaks of the world which will not accept the Paraclete. We can ask ourselves, why then will the Spirit come to the world? We have to understand what Jesus means by the world. By the world Jesus means being possesed spiritually by the world and all its desires to the extent that you have no room for God. Jesus was very critical with people who are living worldly, people who take the world and what it contains to be their idol and to them He says they will not accept the Advocate as they even accept Jesus himself. Let us not allow ourselves to belong to such a group.
What will be the role of this Paraclete? The Paraclete will teach us the truth, to live in truth, to know the truth and to worship God in truth and Spirit. Yesterday we reflected on persecution related to standing for truth and justice. It's the Holy Spirit who will be with us on our side, to help us and guide us in standing for such truth and justice and will make us victorious just as He helped Jesus to conquer everything, even death. This will be so when we allow ourselves to be taught and led by the Spirit.
In the first reading we see the role of the Holy Spirit, firstly it led the Apostles far and wide even to the Gentiles, spread the Good News of the Risen Lord, and built many Christian Communities. Secondly, the receiving of the Holy Spirit was to confirm the new baptised to the Christian Community and commission them to continue spreading the Good News. That's why we see Peter and John going to Samaria, laying hands on the people and all the people received the Holy Spirit. Brethren, we too at confirmation, received the Holy Spirit to witness our Christian faith, how are we witnessing our faith?
The second reading gives us the way we should witness and defend our faith. Firstly, we have all been given the Holy Spirit, which makes us always respond to questions about or faith and hope in the Risen Chtist. It's the Spirit that will give you what to say. In responding to such questions, be humble, respectful and with full knowledge of what you are saying and believing. Above all your response should be supported by your way of living, in fact if you are living a good life in Christ by following his commandments, your life will answer all the questions. You will not convince someone to believe in Christ if you are living a wicked life. Be persecuted for living a good life rather than for living a bad life. St Francis says preach the Gospel and use words if necessary. This means preach and defend your faith in your life.
Reflect today on your readiness to receive the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and allowing Him to be a master of your life. Spend some time in silence and say a prayer to the Holy Spirit, tell Him which gifts He should come with at Pentecost.
Let us pray.
Lord may your Spirit always be our leader and guide in our lives and may He lead us to do more works even beyond our capabilities as human beings for the greater Glory of Your Name. Amen.
Blessed Sunday.
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