- 1st Reading – Acts 15:1-2, 22-29
- 2nd Reading – Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23
- Gospel – John 14:23-29
Today’s first reading sets the stage for the first Church council; the council of Jerusalem. The Apostles, Paul, Barnabas, and other elders gathered because of dissension in the early Church. But what I’d like to focus our attention on is not the details of the arguments, but on how they settled the matter. In their concluding reply they started by saying: “It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us………” This sets a sense of the Church’s absolute dependence on the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It also set a model for the following 21 ecumenical councils. The Church……and all Christians need the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I for one know that I couldn’t write these homilies, and I couldn’t be standing up here before you without the guidance and support of the Holy Spirit. This is exactly what Jesus promised us in today’s Gospel: “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” This is a very comforting Gospel text. Jesus reassures us that although he himself will leave us to return to the Father, he does so that the Holy Spirit can come to us and keep us true to his teaching. Catholics have traditionally taken this, and other similar Gospel texts as a guarantee that the Church, and in particular, the Papacy, will be kept free from doctrinal error. In fact, it’s something we rather pride ourselves on. Jesus’ promise was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost when Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles. We also receive the Holy Spirit at our baptism and confirmation. However, in Jesus’ promise that “The Holy Spirit will teach you everything”, the word “teach” seems to imply that the Holy Spirit often doesn’t act within us instantaneously. So many people who want to be close to God, to experience God, want it almost immediately. Just by saying a prayer or receiving a sacrament they want God to miraculously transform them. We often look for short cuts to help us avoid all the effort of learning and growing into what God wants of us. But this word “teach” tells us that growing in knowing and loving God, growing in loving others, and growing in holiness takes patience, time, and effort. It’s an effort that brings many rewards, but it’s rarely automatic, and not without challenges and sacrifices. The Holy Spirit will teach us if we want to learn, and if we don’t give up too soon.
Other words from Jesus in today’s Gospel also promise the presence of God to each of us. “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.” In the opening lines of John’s Gospel, he tells us; “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” But today’s Gospel takes the dwelling of God on earth to a much deeper level. God is not just “the man upstairs” or even just “our father in Heaven”. Nor is he just among us. He is within us. God is with us as a worshipping body, the Church. He is with us in the union of all Christians in the mystical Body of Christ. And he is also within each one of us as the indwelling Holy Spirit. We continue to take the presence of God within us every Sunday when we receive the Holy Eucharist, which is the deepest, most intense presence of the Lord in our world. The second deepest, intense presence of God in the world is in the Word of God, Sacred Scripture. Within the words of the Bible is the Word of God. This is why we read the Bible and are changed and molded by Sacred Scripture. In the Book of Hebrews, chapter 4 we are told; “The Word of God is living and active.”
The presence of God in the Blessed Sacrament, in Holy Scripture – the Word of God, and in the indwelling Holy Spirit is the great gift given to us by Christ.
Let us acknowledge the presence of God that is within each of us and spend quiet time in prayer and let the Holy Spirit slowly transform us and guide us.
The Ascension
This Thursday, May 5th, we observe the solemnity of the Ascension. It is a holy day of obligation. However, in the Archdiocese of Anchorage, its observance and obligation have been transferred to next weekend. Jesus’ ascension is the culmination of his Passion, Death, and Resurrection. He tells us he goes to heaven to prepare a place for us. After Jesus’ Ascension he continually intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father in heaven. So, Jesus’ ascension is necessary for our salvation just like his Passion, Death, and resurrection.