Sixth Sunday of Easter
We are now in the sixth Sunday of Eastertide, after celebrating the Lord’s Resurrection, and we find ourselves back listening to the farewell discourse, Jesus’ departing words to his beloved disciples. We are told about the new commandment, from last week Gospel account, ‘to love one another as I have loved you’. During this farewell discourse Jesus announces many things that will happen to the disciples, especially the realities that are to be revealed at the Resurrection, with the future arrival and teachings of the Holy Spirit. It will be the Holy Spirit who will dwell in the disciples and will teach them everything they need to know, helping them to recall all that Jesus had told them. It was not simply a recollection of the past, but a deeper understanding of Jesus and his works through the Spirit, making it come alive and active for them.
As you know, the Holy Spirit has a couple of different names, the Advocate and the Paraclete. From the Greek word meaning ‘to call to one’s side’. Since a paraclete in the Roman courtroom would be someone who could provide help and assistance in a trial, giving counsel, pleading for someone’s cause, interceding with the judge on their behalf. As the Holy Spirit the Paraclete, he serves as a counsellor for the disciples, give them comfort and help when the disciples are in hostile situations. The Spirit dwelling in the disciples, will lead them to a deeper understanding of Jesus, and enable them to bear witness to Jesus as Messiah and King.
Among Jesus’ promises was his peace, a blessing of reconciliation that God promised to bestow upon his people. Jesus’ peace is a supernatural peace that arises from a the total love of his Father and therefore it is unlike any other peace seen in this world.
Repeating Jesus words of reassurance he calls the disciples to have a trusting faith, that comes from obeying the Father. A faith that we should inspire to have, in humble obedience to the Father’s will.
Jesus tells the distressed disciples, the promise that ‘I will come back’. He will return to them not only after his Resurrection, but at his second coming at the end of time. While this was hard for them to grasp, the disciples should be thankful and rejoice that Jesus is going to the Father. Since, it is due to Jesus’ entrance into heavenly glory, that the doors are open to us, for our salvation and eternal life with the Father.
Now little time remains for Jesus, before the ruler of the world, the devil, is coming. Satan has already taken possession of Judas who has gone out into the darkness and will next appear leading a band of soldiers representing all of sinful humanity against Jesus. But Satan being a created creature, has no power over him, the incarnate Word through whom all creation came to be, who was sinless, has total sovereign control over his own destiny.
The cross reveals the depths of Jesus’ love for the Father, which is so intense that he willingly embraces the horrible death of crucifixion to accomplish the work of the Father for our salvation.
So, today as we are leading up to Jesus’ Ascension on Thursday and Pentecost next week. Let us allow the Holy Spirit to fill our lives with God’s Love, Hope and Peace. Since, we are his adopted children, and through our own Baptism in love and obedience to the Father, may we imitate Mary our Mother, the Apostles and Saints, in spreading the Good News in Jesus’ mission to the world, for the salvation of souls.
Rev. Fr Philip Wrigley's Blog 