The Holy Spirit will teach you the complete Truth

Acts 8:5-8.14-17, 1 Pet. 3:15-18, Jn 14:15-21. On this Sixth Sunday of Easter Year A, the Church invites us to give our total submission and obedience to God. Out of obedience to God’s will, Jesus demonstrated His supreme love for God; same obedience to the Father was what precipitated the greatest show of love the world has ever known – Jesus’ self sacrifice for sinful humanity. We can only show our love for Jesus when we obey His command. In obedient to God Peter and John traveled to Samaria to continue the initiation of the Samaritans who accepted the faith as recorded in today’s first reading. The two Apostles laid their hands on the believers, pray and the people were filled with the Holy Spirit.

The number of believers continues to grow through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In today’s second reading, Peter reminds the Christians that they should live lives of joy even in the midst of trial and persecution. If they are called upon to suffer for being anointed by Christ, then they should do so with a clear conscience. In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds His disciples that just as He has come to instruct and teach them, another “Paraclete/Advocate will come after He is gone. Advocates had two roles in ancient times: first, to defend and help those who were facing trial; and second, to instruct their clients in the matters at hand. Jesus was the first Paraclete for His followers. The Holy Spirit is the “other” Paraclete who will continue to defend, strengthen, help and instruct those who have been marked by the Spirit.

May the Lord help us to love all He commands and make them the daily guide of our choices and actions so as to be counted among the great in His Kingdom! Amen!! Have Sunday!!!