Sunday, May 22
Sixth Sunday of Easter
“O God, let all the nations praise you!”
Reflection
“When the Son speaks, we take in the words; when the Holy Spirit teaches, we understand those words…”
Again this Sunday, the comforting words of Jesus that we hear in today’s Gospel are not from a post-Resurrection appearance, but rather we continue to return to what Jesus said in his final instruction before he died. We can trust that piecing together life after Jesus’ death and Resurrection led the Apostles to do this same thing: go back to the words of Jesus, remember the promises he made, and now proceed forward. Jesus longed to build up his disciples and fill them with encouragement and assurances of his presence for the days ahead when they would soon need to be reminded of his consolation. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid (John 14:27).
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, is the assurance of God’s presence to give comfort and understanding to disciples when the hostile, unbelieving world will inevitably persecute them. When invoked, the Holy Spirit comforts one who is lost, alone, afraid, hurting, or experiencing doubt. The Acts of the Apostles depicts for us the incredible narrative of the Holy Spirit alive and dwelling within human beings—or better, the results of Jesus’ gift at work. Because of the Spirit, disciples come to know and understand Jesus and are enabled to bear witness to him and to the message of salvation. This is still true to this day, this is still the work of the Holy Spirit: to raise up disciples, to help us in our lives to know God and to let His Peace control our hearts after Jesus' ascension into heaven (Colossians 3:15).
Peace within us is the evidence of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling. But as we studied all through Lent, this peace is not simply something that the world can give, nor is it the absence of conflict or discord in our lives. Rather, this peace is Jesus, a (divine) Person for us to intimately know and love. Only God’s real presence allows disciples to navigate the chaotic waters of life, even in the face of being shipwrecked. It is this gift of peace that will never leave disciples feeling abandoned or without hope. And this is ultimately why we gather together around the Altar: God continues to give himself to us in a way that forever allows for his dwelling with us and in us. It is here that the Lord invites us into his light where we come to know and understand him...his Spirit...his peace (cf. Rev 21:23).
Peace,
Fr. Brendan Foley
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