The Spirit Of Christ Confirms Us

Readings: 1st: Acts 8: 5-8. 14-17; Ps 65, 1-7. 16. 20; 2nd: 1Pt 3, 15-18; Gos: Jn 14: 15-23    

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. Fr. Canice is a member of the Academy of Homiletics. For more details and comments contact him at canice_c_njoku@yahoo.com or canicechukwuemeka@gmail.com.

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

Today is the sixth Sunday of Easter. As we approach the feast of Pentecost, the Church invites us to celebrate the coming of the Advocate. She calls us to celebrate the Spirit of truth, which strengthens us in the proclamation of the good news. The message we bear is not false. Instead, it comes from the Advocate.

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Our first reading is a continuation of the frantic efforts of the disciples of Christ to bear testimony to the risen Lord. Through their efforts, the Samaritans received their Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. Peter performed his episcopal function on this day by laying hands upon the new converts.

Since Philip baptized these new converts, why did he not confirm them? Why was it necessary for Peter and John to travel that long distance to lay hands on (or confirm) the new converts already baptized by Philip? An understanding of our Catholic Catechism is fundamental here.

What Philip did by inviting Peter (the chief Shepherd of the Apostles) was in line with the Church’s teaching on Confirmation: “The ordinary minister of the Sacrament of Confirmation is the bishop. If the need arises, He may grant the faculty to priests. However, he should confer it himself, mindful that the celebration of Confirmation has been temporarily separated from baptism. For this reason, Bishops are the successors of the apostles” (CCC 1313).

The Samaritans needed the Holy Spirit as much as we do today because it is the Holy Spirit that strengthens and makes one a true soldier of Christ (CCC1303-4). He helps us to bear witness to the truth without fear: “You have not received the Spirit of timidity, but the Spirit of sonship. The Spirit bears witness that we are God’s Children” (Rom 8, 15-16). This same Spirit resurrected Christ and gives life to our mortal body (Rom 8: 11). As the principal agent of evangelization, He confirms the truth we preach.

In the second reading, Peter encouraged us to have reverence for Christ. Also, he admonished us to treat others with respect, even those who despise the gospel we preach. Hence, he reminds us of the animating power of the Holy Spirit even in the life of Christ: “In the body, he was put to death; in the spirit, he was raised to life.” The same spirit that raised Jesus sustains us in the truth. This means that once the Spirit of God comes upon us, we become active for Christ because: “What gives life is the spirit of God (John 6, 63).

As we are a couple of weeks from Pentecost, Jesus promises us the Holy Spirit, the Advocate in today’s gospel. However, He gives a condition for receiving the Advocate: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” When we do this, he adds: “I shall ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever, that spirit of truth…I will not leave you, orphans.”

What is this commandment that we must keep receiving the Spirit of truth? It is: “Go into the whole world and preach the good news to all creation (Mk 16: 15). It is also a command to love both God and our neighbor (Luke 10, 25-27). When we do these, we are certainly preaching the good news of truth. The advocate will come to strengthen us in the way of truth. He will also come to confirm that, indeed, we are sons of God. So, let us pray: Come, O Holy Spirit, and renew the face of the earth, alleluia.

Peace be with you all!

Maranatha!