GET READY AT ALL TIMES !

 

Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year A)

 

Acts 8.5-8, 

14-17;  Ps 65;  

I Pet 3.15-18;  

Jn 14.15-21

AGAINST ALL ODDS THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN HELP YOU 

Since Easter, we have been contemplating the appearances of our blessed Lord to His disciples following His resurrection. Today, we approach the anticipated moment of His Ascension. In preparation, Christ assures the disciples that although He will depart from them in the flesh, He will not abandon them. On the contrary, He and the Father will send the Holy Spirit to serve as their comforter and guide. 

Christ’s earthly mission—revealing the divine reality in a manner comprehensible to those who saw and heard Him—is drawing to a close. The Spirit will now assist in deepening their understanding of the significance and fullness of this divine revelation. One of the central mysteries of this divine revelation is the doctrine of the Trinity: that God, while maintaining His unity, exists as three persons. This teaching is especially prominent during this period of the liturgical calendar. Next Thursday, the Feast of the Ascension, commemorates the return of our Lord in His glorified body to the bosom of the Father. Ten days later, Pentecost marks the descent of the Holy Spirit, followed by the celebration of Trinity Sunday.

Today’s gospel emphasizes a different aspect of divine unity: not the trinity of persons but the union of the Father and the Son with one another and with us. As Jesus declares, "I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I in you.” Through the love of the Son for each one of us, we are united with God. A significant sign of that love is the unity shared among us—the unity of the Church. In a prayer spoken by Christ prior to His arrest and trial, He addresses the Father: “Holy Father, I pray for all those who believe in me, that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in me, and I in You, that they also may be one in us.” It is evident that it is Christ’s will that the Church, which continues His presence, should be united.

However, the reality of the Church often involves challenges. Every faithful Catholic recognizes that aspects of the visible Church can cause suffering to those who love Her. It is often the case that saints suffer not only for the Church but also, at times, from within Her. The Church is not a community of perfection but of sinful humanity—those who, through divine grace, are being transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. Consequently, pain and misunderstanding are inevitable; disagreements among sincere believers are also unavoidable. As Saint Paul stated to the Corinthians, 'I hear that there are divisions among you."

The Church, the Mystical Body of Christ on earth, bears the wounds inflicted by human sin, reflecting the suffering of our Savior. The French philosopher Blaise Pascal noted that Christ remains in agony until the end of time. Cardinal Newman echoed this sentiment, asserting that the Church bears in her body the scars of her dying Lord.

Despite these hardships, the Church remains one, an achievement attributable solely to divine power. Nevertheless, it also functions as an institution with a tangible structure. This distinction is crucial when discussing the visibility of the Church. Catholics do not believe in a perfect, heavenly Church disconnected from the earthly one, nor do they view the earthly Church as inherently corrupt. The institutional nature of the Church is not a consequence of the Fall but a testament to human goodness and potential. Modern skepticism of institutions contains some valid concerns—namely, that human beings can misuse institutional authority and purpose. For instance, secular governments are designed to serve the common good but do not always do so. Similarly, the Church’s development may sometimes fall short of ideals.

Nevertheless, attacking the Church solely because it is an institution is either an expression of hatred toward Christ or ignorance. The visible Church is essential for maintaining and conveying the mystery of Jesus Christ. Without it, the sacraments and teachings of the faith cannot be sustained. This is a fundamental aspect of Catholic doctrine. While this reality can sometimes be a burden, it is part of the divine mystery.

Today's gospel recalls Christ’s promise of the Holy Spirit, which will be celebrated at Pentecost in two weeks. The descent of the Spirit constitutes the foundation of our faith and hope, as well as the core of the Church itself. It is through God's power and our hope in His promises that we find confidence in the Church. Hope involves trusting in what has been promised. When someone trustworthy makes a promise, belief and anticipation follow. This hope transforms our outlook on daily life.

Today, we unite with Mary, the Mother of God and of the Church, in the upper room—awaiting the fulfillment of Christ’s promise that the Holy Spirit will come to guide us in truth. The Spirit will work within us—as individuals and as members of the Church—drawing us closer to God and fostering a greater love for Him. As our closeness to the Almighty increases, so too will our unity in faith, hope, and charity. 

"Father, may they all be one in us, as you are in me and I am in you," echoes the spiritual longing for perfect unity.