1st Reading – Acts 8: 5 – 8, 14 – 17;
Second Reading – 1 Peter 3: 15 – 18;
Gospel – John 14: 15 – 21
The theme of today’s readings is the proclamation of the Divine Presence of the Holy Spirit. The origin of this promise can be traced to the Old Testament Books of Jeremiah and Ezekiel. In the days of the prophets, God had promised to make a new covenant with His people. He promised to put His law within His chosen people, writing it on their hearts, that He may be their God and they may be His people. He promised to put a new human spirit within His people, to remove their hearts of stone and to give them a heart of flesh. The Gospel of today tells us of the concern of Jesus for his church. Jesus is about to leave the world and return to his Father as he promises to send them the Holy Spirit. He tells them that he will not leave them orphaned but his spirit will be with the church till the end of time.Jesus’ promise to his disciples of the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit (John 14:15-21), is part of the long “Farewell Discourse” near the end of John’s Gospel. Jesus made this farewell to his disciples at their Last Supper, just prior to his arrest, crucifixion, death, and Resurrection. In Hebrew, the word for spirit is ruach in Greek, pneuma in Latin, spiritus – all of which suggest breathing. The idea is that when a person is breathing, he is alive. It is from this notion that the idea of an animating, life-giving, intelligent, and active force comes. The word (in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin), thus meant “breath”, “life” and “spirit.” The Jewish tradition taught that when the Messiah came, God’s very own Life (Breath, Spirit) would be poured out upon all the faithful believers. Christ promises that he would continue his care of his disciples. He tells them that he will not leave them orphans, or fatherless, for though he will be leaving them, he won’t leave them in isolation. He communicates to them that he will come speedily to them after his resurrection. He promises them that he will come daily to them through his Spirit and thus manifest his love, and place into them the abundance of his grace. Certainly he will remain with them till the end of time. Only those persons that see Christ with an eye of faith shall see him forever: the world sees him no more till his second coming; but his disciples have communion with him during his absence. He tells them that these mysteries will be fully revealed in heaven. The Holy Spirit, the best gift in love that God can give, stands beside us, comforts us when we ask, helps us in difficult times and speaks on our behalf when we are in struggle. Although people with no religious faith comfort one another, our fellowship with the spirit is deeper and more awesome. That does not mean transforming speeches or great visions. The Holy Spirit is most often more quiet and simple and more available than people can believe. We must remember that all spiritual life, all holiness comes from the Father through Jesus by the action of the Holy Spirit. From time to time if we have the sensitivity to perceive it, we are aware of what is happening as we truly share the spirit with one another. The Words of Jesus in the conclusion of today’s Gospel Reading are: “They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.” Through this declaration, we learn the condition that is required in order to share in the life of God. To partake in the life of God, we must also share in the love and obedience of Jesus that was manifested towards His Father during His earthly life. Assurance of the Risen Lord’s presence with us. Jesus assures his disciples that they will not be left as orphans. He promises them awareness of his risen presence – in themselves, in each other, in the Church, in Scripture, in the Sacraments, and in the praying community — through the enlightening presence, teaching and action of the Holy Spirit. We will never have to face any trial alone—even death —if we walk with Jesus. He protects us from the Evil One. His Resurrection, in fact, changed the despair of the apostles to hope when they realised beyond doubt that Jesus is the Son of God. “You will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you” (Jn 14:20).
The indwelling Spirit of God nourishes us each time we receive the Sacraments, each time we pray, and each time we read the Bible. We need to be open to the Holy Spirit, our Paraclete. 1) The purpose of the indwelling Holy Spirit is to help us grow towards maturity and wholeness. We all have faults that prevent our growth: blocks of sin and imperfection, blocks due to childhood conflicts, blocks due to deeply ingrained personality traits and habits, blocks caused by addictions, and blocks resulting from bad choices we have made. We all have these blocks within us and they keep us from becoming what God wants us to be. They prevent us from growing into maturity and wholeness. God, the Holy Spirit, helps us to see the truth about ourselves, to discern the blocks that inhibit our growth and to allow Him to transform us. 2) Like the Good counsellor He is, the Spirit enables us to become stronger. The Holy Spirit comes to our aid and gives us the strength to make difficult and painful decisions. 3) The Holy Spirit actually lives in us, and we hear the voice of the Spirit, counselling and guiding us in the way of truth. Let us open our minds and hearts to hear Him and to obey His promptings.