God is beside us!
May 1, 2005 The Sixth Sunday of Easter (A) - White
First Reading: Acts of the Apostles 8:5-8, 14-17
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 66
"Let all the earth cry out to God with joy."
Second Reading: 1 Peter 3:15-18
Gospel: John 14:15-21
"I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you"
It is a fact that Jesus will go back to the Father after his earthly mission has been accomplished. He will have to leave his disciples. This is a fact the disciples have to face.
The Johannine version of the Gospel presents a lengthy account of thr discourse during the Last Supper. Jesus is presented here once again as a teacher who teaches his discples what to do til the very end. Last week, we heard that Jesus - the only way to the Father who leads us in truth and lives a life surrendered to the Father’s will - will go back to where his disciples cannot fathom. Jesus is ready to go back to the Father. He promises also that he will prepare for them a place to wherever he is going. This Sunday, we are presented an answer to the problem of the disciples. They thought that Jesus will leave them orphans - no one to guide them when he is not around in flesh anymore. But Jesus promises them one thing - a mystery that will be perfected and fully-fathomed during the first Pentecost event.
The mystery of the Spirit takes the centerstage. Jesus promises them the Holy Spirit - the Advocate, the Paraclete, the Lord and Giver of life - who will guide them as they journey to accomplish the mission Jesus has entrusted them. The Holy Spirit , which "the world cannot accept," works in mysterious ways. He works in different people with different personalities. He makes the truth known through varied ways. Not all people believe in the transforming power of the Spirit. But he makes sure that people feel his transforming power through the challenges and problems people face. We have our own Paschal Mystery which we share in Christ’s very own Paschal Mystery. He makes known himself to the world through every individual’s Paschal Mystery. Because of the Spirit’s union with Christ, he continues Christ’s work of leading us the way to the Father, speaking about the truth and living in us the very life pleasing to the Father. Hence, the Spirit of Truth will lead us to all truth.
The apostles were not left orphans. The apostles were sent a mystery which would enable them to feel Christ’s presence more. He is always beside them through the Spirit.
Living as Christians
Christ suffered once to lead us to the Father - both for sinners and righteous. He made this possible through his Paschal death on the cross which climaxed in his triumphant resurrection from the dead. All of us have to face our own Paschal Mysteries however it is better to suffer for doing good rather than for doing bad.
