Sunday Gospel Reflections6th Sunday of Easter
Reading I: Acts 8:5-8,14-17 II: 1Peter 3:15-18
Gospel John 14:15-21
15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever,
17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you.
18 "I will not leave you desolate; I will come to you.
19 Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more, but you will see me; because I live, you will live also.
20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
21 He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me; and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."
Interesting Details
- This passage is the conclusion of Jesus' response to Philip's request: "Show us the Father." The beginning (v.15) "love me, keep my commandments" and the end (v.21) "keep my commandments, love me" repeat the same idea but in reverse.
- A Counselor/Advocate/Paraclete (v.16) can mean a spokesman, a mediator, an intercessor, a comforter, a consoler or a helper. Another permanent Counselor is in contrast with Jesus' departure. The Counselor may be seen as continuing the functions of Jesus' earthly ministry for the disciples.
- The Spirit of Truth (v.17) is a moral force put into a person by God, as opposed to the spirit of perversity (Jn 8:44).
- "I live, you will live also" (v.19) refers to living through Jesus, it appears in connection with the eucharistic formula as described in Jn 6:56.
- "In that day" (v.20) refers to the whole period after Jesus' resurrection.
One Main Point Jesus promises to the believers of his continuing presence through a Counselor, the Spirit of Truth and the Holy Spirit (v.26 later). The world will not know this gift and will oppose to its existence. The reward is for those who love Jesus and keep his commandments of loving one another.
Reflections
- Have I ever felt the presence of Jesus living in me? How do I recognize and react to his presence?
- What are the forces that still keep me lying instead of always telling the truth?
- If I am an orphan, how do I feel? What do I need the most? What should I do?