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sixth sunday of easter
Jesus came to reveal to us the ultimate truth, the truth of the Father’s love experienced by Jesus and manifested in His life, death and resurrection. We are invited to participate in this truth by becoming one with Jesus through faith. This is accomplished through the work of the Holy Spirit, who Jesus calls “the Spirit of Truth” and the “Advocate.” The role of the Holy Spirit is to assist us in discovering all the real and practical implications of the profound truth revealed by Jesus.
Though Jesus taught His followers many things throughout His public ministry, they were unable to understand much of what he said because the heart of His truth was revealed in His death and resurrection. Jesus told His disciples that the role of the Holy Spirit is to “teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you.”
The Spirit of Truth will continue the teachings of Jesus in light of the transforming reality of Jesus’ death and resurrection. The Spirit will enable believers to experience Jesus days, years and even centuries after Jesus earthly life. The effect of the Spirit’s work within the believer is a profound sense of peace, well-being, and confidence. This is the kind of peace that the world cannot give and that does not go away in the midst of life’s most difficult struggles. It is the greatest gift we can imagine. It is a gift that Jesus gives to you and me.
God Bless,
Msgr. Powell
fifth sunday of easter
Throughout the Old Testament, the glory of the Lord was experienced in fire, a cloud, and a host of other tangible appearances. As Jesus prepares for His death, the truth of His life as a manifestation of the Father will be made clear. When he is lifted up in crucifixion as the ultimate and perfect sign of Gods love for us, His glorification will be accomplished.
The heart of todays reading is the new commandment that Jesus gives to His followers: “Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another” (Verse 34). The commandment is at once very old and totally new. It is based on God’s ancient commandment: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev 19:18). It is new because the standard of love is now the love with which Jesus has loved us. Though God has shown His love for us in many ways in the past, no one could dream that it would reach the point where the Son of God would die for us. Yet, love is more than a commandment; it is also a gift. We could never observe the commandment were it not for the fact that we have been created to share in God’s life, which is love.
Spend some time today thinking about God’s love for you and thank Him by telling Him how much you love him.
God Bless,
Msgr. Powell