Acts 8:5-8, 14-17 Psalm 66 1 Peter 3:15-18 John 14:15-21
LIFE IN THE SPIRIT
"The entire mission of the Messiah can be summarized in this: to baptize us in the Holy Spirit" (Pope Benedict XVI). Today's readings are a preparation to celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The first reading describes the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Samaria. The second reading proclaims Jesus, crucified and risen to a new life in the Spirit. In the gospel, Jesus speaks about the coming of the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit.
ACTS
Last Sunday we heard about what is commonly referred to as the ordination of the first deacons in the Church. Today we are told about one of those men, Philip, who ministered in Samaria - preaching, working miracles, healing the sick, and casting out evil spirits. Quite a ministry for one who was originally chosen to distribute food to widows!
The Apostles in Jerusalem send Peter and John to pray over these Samaritans to receive the Holy Spirit. This passage is frequently cited as a Scriptural reference for the sacrament of Confirmation.
The Responsorial, Psalm 66, is a song of praise for the wonders God worked in the Exodus - and also in Acts!
1 PETER
Our second reading, continuing from the First Letter of Peter, encourages those who are suffering - especially those who are being persecuted for their faith in Jesus. The Letter says that "it is better to suffer for doing good, if that be the will of God, than for doing evil."
We are to imitate Christ - the righteous who suffered for the unrighteous. Although the Lord Jesus was "put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the Spirit." Through the cross and resurrection, Jesus is now able to pour out the Holy Spirit on his Church. St. Paul actually refers to Jesus as a "life-giving Spirit" (cf. 1 Cor. 15:45).
GOSPEL
As we are drawing closer to Ascension and Pentecost, our gospel reading is from the Last Supper Discourse. Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit: "I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows him."
The word translated here as "Advocate" is the Greek word Parakletos, which means "one who pleads another's case before a judge; a legal counselor; a defense attorney." Jesus himself is our Advocate, Intercessor, and Paraclete before the Father (cf. Heb. 7:25). As he is about to depart from the Apostles, he promises not to leave them orphans, but to send them another Paraclete.
This gospel reading concludes with another saying which connects love of Jesus with obedience to his commandments - a connection which occurs numerous times in John's Gospel and Letters. The way we show our love for Jesus is to obey his word.
ADVENT TO PENTECOST
The liturgical cycle stretches from the Advent/Christmas season all the way through the Lent/Easter season. We are now approaching the end of the Easter Season with the solemnities of Ascension and Pentecost. Referring again to the opening quote from Pope Benedict, Jesus the Messiah came to baptize us in the Holy Spirit. This was his mission. But he had to first undergo his suffering and death in order to enter into his glory (cf. Luke 24:26), and send the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth.
In these coming weeks, may we, like the Samaritans in our first reading, open our hearts to receive the outpouring of the Hoy Spirit without measure - a personal Pentecost!