Sixth Sunday of Easter ‘C’

Today’s readings show us the effects of the permanent presence of God in His Church and of His presence in each one of us.

The First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles tells us how the Holy Spirit present in the Church helped the apostles to solve a major doctrinal problem, which shook the very foundation of the early Church - the Gentiles becoming Christians.

The Second Reading, taken from the Book of Revelation, describes the Church as the Heavenly Jerusalem, a city united in love, with the victorious Jesus dwelling in it and in each of its members, replacing the presence of God in the Holy of Holies in the Temple in Jerusalem.

The Gospel reminds us that the Holy Spirit is our teacher and the source of peace. The passage offers hope. Jesus promises His followers that the Holy Spirit will come and instruct them in everything they need to know.

May we be aware of the presence of God within us. Living in the New Covenant, we are daily facing uncertainty, conflict, and temptations. It is the presence of God within us that makes it possible for us to face the unknown future with Christian hope and courage. The Holy Spirit, whom the risen Lord asked His Father to send upon His Church, prompts us to turn to the Holy Scriptures for support and encouragement and grants us His peace. To be able to receive these gifts, it is necessary for us to spend a little time each day in personal prayer, talking to God and listening to Him. We need to deepen our relationship with Jesus, to get in touch with Him. When we listen to the Holy Spirit, we will know His plan and His solution to whatever problems we face. We will be able to love others, and there will be peace within us.

The Holy Spirit teaches us through the Scriptures during the Holy Mass. Jesus loves us and comes to us in Communion. When the Mass is ended, we go forth in the peace of Christ, all this under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Oneness with Jesus is the greatest gift we can give our children, our friends, or those who see no purpose in life. We can help to bring people to be united with Jesus, and their unity with Him will change their lives