The Holy Spirit: The Radiant Glory of Christ enlightens us

Readings: 1st: Acts 15: 1-2.22-29; Ps: 66; 2nd: Rev 21:10-14.22-23; Gos: Jn 14:23-29

This brief reflection was written by Fr. Njoku Canice Chukwuemeka, C.S.Sp. He is a Catholic Priest and a member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans). He is a missionary in Puerto Rico. He is the Parish Priest of Parroquia la Resurrección del Senor, Canóvanas, and the Major Superior of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans), Circumscription of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. He was the chancellor of the Diocese of Fajardo Humacao, Puerto Rico. Fr. Canice is a member of the Academy of Homiletics. For more details and comments contact him at: canice_c_njoku@yahoo.com, canicechukwuemeka@gmail.com

(https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8452-8392)

One figure that features in all the readings of this sixth Sunday of Easter is the Holy Spirit. Jesus is gradually approaching the end of his earthly ministry, so he promised to send us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the radiant glory that enlightens us. If we remain docile to Him, he will guide us in all our decisions and ways through this world.

In the first reading and the whole of Acts of the Apostles, the Apostles did not make any decisions without consulting the Holy Spirit. Also, they could not carry out any severe mission without the Holy Spirit. “The Holy Spirit and we have decided,” they said. The second reading begins thus: “In the Spirit, the angel took me to the top of an enormous mountain.” Of course, there is no way John could have seen these things without the help of the Holy Spirit.

As Christ was about to ascend to his father in today’s gospel, he promised to send the Advocate to his disciple. The Holy Spirit is the power of Jesus and, yet, a person in the Trinity. However, this does not mean that Christ’s era has come to an end because he is Lord at all times. Instead, it implies that he is not leaving us orphans.

This Sunday, Jesus assures us that the Holy Spirit will teach and remind us all that he taught us. So, all we need to do is to remain docile to the counsel of the Holy Spirit. We need to be attentive to him to read the signs of our time and succeed in our mission in our world today.

At no time in the history of the world is the need to listen to the Holy Spirit more important than our own time. As Christians, there are so many intrigues, perplexities, and dilemmas that we must contend with within our world today.  Only those who pay attention to the Holy Spirit understand these and where they are leading us to. So, this time calls for a special relationship with the Holy Spirit.

If we must survive the perils of our time, we must make the Holy Spirit our Advocate and our Partner. Only when the Holy Spirit of God is upon us can we sing and dance the way David did. Only through the help of the Holy Spirit can we preach well as the Apostles did. This is because “no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the power of the Holy Spirit” (I Cor 12, 3). Only through his inspiration can we see visions and have good dreams. Only through the guidance of the Holy Spirit can we face the struggles of this life and succeed in our missionary endeavors.

Finally, without listening to the Holy Spirit, we continue to go around in a vicious circle. Hence, if we allow Him to take the lead, we will walk well and live rightly. If we allow him to move us, we will move well. If we allow him to teach us, we will understand well; and if we allow him to inspire us, we shall achieve our goals and be where Christ is today.  “What gives life is the Spirit, the flesh profits nothing” (Jn 6: 63). So, each morning, when we wake up, we have to invoke and ask the Holy Spirit to direct and show us the best way to proceed.

Peace be with you!

Maranatha!