Jesus’ Proclaims A New Advocate, The Holy Spirit, Will Be With Us Forever If We Follow God’s Ways

For those of us who have relatives and friends that are facing mental or physical problems that bring them closer to death, we often contemplate how we will conduct our lives after they pass.  Aside from our memories, will we be able to adjust to do some of the things we did when they were alive?  That is certainly the dilemma of the Apostles as Jesus tells Him of His leaving earth and returning to heaven to be with His Father at the Ascension.

St. John’s Gospel clarifies that Jesus understood the Apostles’ concerns when he proclaimed at the Last Supper that he will not abandon them.  “I will ask the Father” to give you another Advocate, the Holy Spirit of truth, to be with them and us always.  It is the Holy Spirit who teaches, guides, supports, consoles and comforts all who believe in Jesus because the Trinity is linked with one another and us.

We see in the readings from the Acts of the Apostles and in the First Letter of Saint Peter that the Apostles and all who are disciples of Jesus have both accepted the Advocate and trust enough to become active in service to God’s ways.

In the Acts’ reading, Philip, one of seven deacons picked by the Apostles to be of service to all in need, not only followed in the ways of the Lord, but was blessed with powers to heal, preach and convert many to Catholicism.  He was joined by Peter and John who laid hands on the newly baptized to Confirm them with the Holy Spirit.

Saint Peter’s letter further enlightens how the Holy Spirit sanctifies Christ as Lord in our hearts by reminding how we need to be “ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks us for a reason for our hope.”  So affected can we become by God’s love for us as His disciples, that we are willing to suffer to assure that God’s message of eternal life becomes a reality to all believers.

It is the Gospel and Jesus’ words that Confirm what He says about His love for us and our acceptance of His promise.  “Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me.  And whoever loves me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.”  (John 14:21)

With our celebration of Jesus’ Ascension and descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost in the next two weeks, we are called to accept Jesus’ proclamation of not abandoning us.   If we choose to trust that God, the Father, will send the Holy Spirit to be with us always, we can accomplish all the things the Gospel and readings this Sunday call us to do.

Let us take this time to pray about how with our God-given gifts we can represent the presence of Jesus on earth.  Let us provide hope to those who seem to be lost, even if it means we might possibly suffer in the ways of the Lord.  We will be blessed if we do because of God’s love and promise of eternal life.    

Reading 1: Acts 8: 5-8, 14-17
Reading 2: First Peter 3: 15-18
Gospel: John 14: 15-21