Sunday 1 May 2016

6th SUNDAY OF EASTER-C
I Reading: Acts 15:1-2.22-29: It has been decided by the Holy Spirit and by ourselves not to saddle you with any burden beyond these essentials.
II Reading: Apocalypse 21:10-14.22-23: He showed me the holy city coming down out of heaven.
Gospel: John 14:23-29: The Holy Spirit will remind you of all I have said to you.
The Holy Spirit: Who He is, 14:15-26
There are three great Scriptures that deal with the doctrine of the Holy Spirit at length.
1. The Identity of the Holy Spirit or who He is (Jn 14:15-26)
2. The work of the Holy Spirit (Jn 16:7-15)
3. The Power of the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:1-17)
The three readings deal with the Holy Spirit. In the gospel, Jesus talks about the love (the agape love, the highest love, supreme love, selfless love, sacrificial love, merciful love, forgiving love), the Advocate (Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, the wonderful counsellor, the comforter) and the peace (shalom in Hebrew, erene in Greek).
Faith in Jesus and love for neighbours will help a person to experience the salvation of God. Jesus gives the true peace and joy while listening to the Word of God and taking part in the Eucharist and prayer. The world cannot give the peace but only Jesus gives the peace.
The work of the Holy Spirit is the sanctification and unity and peace. The Sprit will teach everything and reminds us the teachings of Jesus. The Spirit comforts, empowers and inspire us always when we open our hearts and minds. He also strengthens the believers in the time of suffering, pain, persecution and temptations. “No one can say Jesus is the Lord except by the power of the Holy Spirit” (1Cor 12:3). What gives life is the sprit, the flesh profits nothing (Jn 6:63).
Peace (Hebrew-shalom) is not the absence of war or suffering, pain or persecution but a communion, tranquillity, relationship, hope and trust in the Lord at all time. A person finds peace even in the midst of suffering.
The greatest help the believers are to receive is the very presence of God Himself in the person of the Holy Spirit. It is this that Jesus now reveals. He reveals the Holy Spirit, His identity, who He is (Jn 16:7-15 where Jesus reveals the work of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Holy Spirit in Rom 8:1-17).
1. Fact: If a person loves Jesus, he will keep His commandments (v.15)
2. He is the Counselor, the Comforter, the other Helper (v.16)
3. He is the Spirit of truth (v.17)
a. The world cannot accept Him
b. The believer does receive Him and know Him
4. He is the personal presence of Christ (v.18-20)
a. A spiritual presence not a physical one
b. A living and eternal presence
c. A living union between God, Christ and the believer
5. He is the very special manifestation of Christ within the believer (v.21-22)
a. The special presence is conditional: Must obey and love Christ
b. The special presence is questioned
6. He is the abiding presence of the Trinity (v.23-24)
a. Is conditional: Must love and obey Jesus
b. Is the love and presence of God and Christ
c. Is not given to those who do not love and obey Christ
d. Is assured by God Himself
7. He is the Holy Spirit, the Teacher (v.25-26)
a. The facts
          1) He is promised
          2) He is given by the Father in the name of Jesus
b. His purpose
          1) To teach the believer all things: both the words and life of Christ, both the truth and the life, both the  Word and how to live the Word, both the theory and practice, both the principles and conduct, both the morality and behaviour.
          2) To help the believer to remember all that has been taught in the Word of God, to help especially in the moments of trail when the truth is needed (1Cor 10:13, 2:13; Lk 12:12; Jn 14:26, 16:13; 1Jn 2:27).
“No one can say Jesus is Lord except by the power of the Holy Spirit” (I Cor 12, 3). 
What gives life is the Spirit, the flesh profits nothing” (Jn 6, 63).

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