We are in the
Sixth Sunday of Easter. The readings of today invite us to focus on Holy
Spirit, the praclete. Last Sunday we heard about the new commandant: LOVE. This
Sunday Jesus tells us that if we love Him we will keep His commandment of love (Jn
14:23). The commandment is to love, but to keep that commandment we need to
love Him. We obey or do something for the person if only we love that
particular person. After giving the commandment of love, Jesus promises the
gift of the Holy Spirit. The purpose of Holy Spirits’ coming onto the earth is
to make the disciples remember/recall what they had heard, seen and learned
from Jesus, their master. When Jesus makes this promise, the disciples don’t
understand what Jesus has been speaking about. However, Jesus tells them these
things, because in the future the Holy Spirit will help them to recall whatever
He has been saying and would give them understanding about what He is speaking
about. Thus, the Holy Spirit is the source of our knowledge, memory and understanding.
Holy Spirit is poured onto us on the day of our Baptism and confirmation so
that when we lack faith or go astray He would come as our helper to make us
remember whatever we had been taught. He will make us remember the richness of
our faith. When we doubt and lack clarity about certain mysteries of our faith
He would stir our mind to process properly by making us recall what we had been
taught, believed or given. Therefore, when we struggle with faith related
issues, the best person to call on our assistance is the Holy Spirit. But,
often we neglect His help and seek answers for our religious quests outside the
religious sphere. How can a world that is devoid of religious sense could
possibly answer our religious quests? In the first reading we hear the decree of
the first Jerusalem council. This decree is proclaimed as the result of councils’
decision which made discernment with the assistance of the Holy Spirit. Yes! the
apostles and elders in Jerusalem council sought the help of the Holy Spirit to
analyse the commotion in the Antiochian community. The same thing is happening
today in the Church with the ‘synodal process’ through which Pope Francis is
trying to listen to the Holy Spirit.
On Easter Sunday
Jesus appears to the disciples with the message of peace. In today’ gospel He foretells
that message of peace by promising them peace, which is different from the
peace that the world offers (Jn 14:27). This word of peace is much needed at
this time, because the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus will make the
disciples trouble and be afraid respectively. The crucifixion will make the
disciples tremble in their hope on Jesus. The news of resurrection by women
will make the disciples fearful to meet Jesus as they have the guilt of being
ran away or being neglected Jesus on Good Friday. Their trembling and fear is
of no surprise as they had not yet received the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit
will enable the person to overcome trembling and fear. The proclamation of
Peter on the day of Pentecost is the power of the Holy Spirit. The gift of Holy
Spirit enabled the frightened disciples to come out boldly and proclaim. In today’s
gospel Jesus is preparing the disciples for the day of Pentecost as we are also
preparing for the day of Pentecost, which falls on the following Sunday. Before
the Pentecost, there is an Ascension which will make the disciples very anxious
as they would no longer see Jesus physically on this earth. In our life too, we
face so many ascension moments. Whenever we feel the absence of God and face
hopeless situations we are into the ascension moment. We have worries, doubts, uncertainties
and struggles. Let none of them led us away from the Lord. Let us cling on to
the Lord to overcome all those worries, doubts, uncertainties and struggles. He
will pour on us the gifts of the Holy Spirit to help us. He will make us recall
and understand the state our life and the purpose of our ongoing struggle. Let us
keep the commandment of the Lord (love) to prepare ourselves worthily for the
day of Pentecost.
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