JESUS PROMISES THE HOLY SPIRIT
ACTS 8:5-8, 14-17; PSALM 66; 1PETER 3:15-18; JOHN 14:15-21
In the gospel, Jesus speaks about his departure and his promise of the Holy Spirit. When he promises he never fails. Jesus says “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor”. This simply means that Jesus is a Counsellor and at his departure there will be no vacuum, another Counsellor will come.
A Counsellor is a person, trained to give guidance on problems personal or otherwise. A Counsellor help people to overcome their problems and to make appropriate changes to their lives. The Greek word used here is “Paraklete” but it has been translated as “counsellor,” “advocate,” “comforter,” “Helper”, “intercessor,” “strengthener,” and “standby.” The fact remains that this promised advocate, or counsellor, is the Holy Spirit. The various names used rather reflect his functions.
We need to have the right disposition for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. While the second reading invites us to keep our conscience clear the gospel says we must have a heart of love and obedience. The Holy Spirit is the love of the Father and the Son. Therefore, as we await the outpouring of the Holy Spirit we must make every effort to live in love and keep his commandment. Those who love God must obey Him. To say, “I love Jesus” but can’t keep His commands is a terrible misunderstanding of both Jesus and love to Him.
Again, the first reading presents us with a structure for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The scripture says; after they have received the word of God and have been baptized, they sent for Peter and John who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
Don’t claim to be Spirit-filled when you are not yet baptized. Part of the crisis of truth today is that people neglect baptism, neglect the word of God and claim to be Spirit-filled. Many preachers today don’t emphasize baptism and repentance their primary interest is on the Holy Spirit and his various gifts. What is baptism of the Holy Spirit when you have not been baptized by water? In John 3:5 Jesus said to Nicodemus “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
The Church is conscious of this sacred pattern and so she gives us Catechesis – where we learn the Word of God, then the Sacrament of Baptism before the Sacrament of Confirmation. Today, we have questionable disposition and Christianity that is devoid of pattern. May the Holy Spirit lead us to the complete truth.
LET US PRAY
Grant, almighty God, that we may celebrate with heartfelt devotion these days of joy, which we keep in honor of the risen Lord, and that what we relieve in remembrance we may always hold to in what we do. Amen
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
