May 14
Sixth Sunday of Easter
“Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.”
Readings
Reflection
The sixth Sunday of the Easter season continues the story of the early church as it spreads the message of love that Jesus started.
The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles tells us how Christ’s message comes through the Apostle Phillip to the people of Samaria. The Holy Spirit is brought to the Samaritans through the laying on of hands by Peter and John. The second reading from St Peter’s first epistle calls on us to treasure Christ in our hearts and to have an answer ready for those who do not understand why we believe in him, even if this may bring trouble our way. In our gospel reading, Jesus promises his listeners the gift of the Holy Spirit to help and strengthen them. Those who love him love the Father and so will be able to keep the commandments and gain eternal life.
The Holy Spirit is a bit of a mystery to many of us who consider the miracles that were wrought by Jesus and his apostles as its true manifestation. But for us, the Holy Spirit works in other ways. When we consider the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we are told that the Spirit is essential to our living in the world as people of faith, but remains silent about its role in our lives. We read in verse 687 of the Catechism, “The Spirit who "has spoken through the prophets" makes us hear the Father's Word, but we do not hear the Spirit himself. We know him only in the movement by which he reveals the Word to us and disposes us to welcome him in faith.”
A powerful way that we experience the Holy Spirit can be found in verse 1832, “The fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory. The tradition of the Church lists twelve of them: 'charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity.'"
Are these attributes that describe how you interact with God, with those you love, those you don’t know and with those you would sometimes prefer not to know? As we seek the Spirit of God, we should cultivate those qualities. They are signs of the love of Jesus in our hearts.
Peace,
Deacon Dare
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