Sixth Sunday of Easter (A)

 

  Sixth Sunday of Easter (A) [Jn 14:15-21]

10.05.2026

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

Readings: (1) Acts 8:5-8.14-17 (2) 1 Pet 3:15-18

1.    Theme in brief:

The defending and protecting role of the Holy Spirit

2.    Focus Statement:

Out of his boundless love for us, Jesus does not leave us orphaned, but promises to give us the gift of the Holy Spirit as a defender to stand by us against all untruth of the world.

3.    Explanation of the text

In his ‘Farewell Speech' at the Last Supper with his disciples, Jesus prepares them not only for his departure from this world, but also for the reception of the Holy Spirit. In today’s gospel text, Jesus, after repeating his favourite theme of ‘loving one another,’ promises them ‘another Paraclete’ or Advocate besides himself to remain with them forever, and emphasizes the intimate unity between him, the Father and the disciples. In John’s gospel, Jesus’ words about loving his Father are closely associated with doing his will and obeying him. Similarly, faithfulness or obedience to Jesus’ words is a sign of a disciple’s love for him as well as the hallmark of discipleship. That is why he tells his disciples that loving him also involves obeying his commandments (14:15). What commandments? Though it is put in the plural, actually Jesus gives only one commandment: To love one another just as he loved his disciples (13:34; 15:12) to the point of  laying down or sacrificing one's life for one’s friends (15:13; 1 Jn 3:16). Maybe he has in mind a second command to “wash one another’s feet” (13:14) – though ultimately this also has the same connotation of humble and sacrificial service rendered to others out of love. Jesus’ way of love is also in obedience to his Father’s will.

In today’s gospel text, we get the impression that the Holy Spirit will not come if Jesus will not depart from this world. That is why he calls the Holy Spirit not as the Paraclete, but rather as ANOTHER Paraclete (14:16). Jesus himself is called the first Paraclete in John’s First Letter. There he writes: "… if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous" (1 Jn 2:1). This word ‘Paraclete’ means one who is called to one’s side as a helper when the person who calls him is in trouble, distress or doubt. It can refer to a person who comes to the help of someone in times of danger or adversity.  It can also can mean a lawyer (as in a case in the court) who fights your case on your behalf. Further, it can mean a defender to stand by your side. There are various translations for this word such as Counsellor, Advocate, Comforter, Consoler and Helper. Each word connotes different aspects of what the Holy Spirit does by continuing Jesus’ divine presence in the world, namely giving comfort, counsel, or strength in time of need.

It is clear that while Jesus is still in the world, he himself plays the Paraclete’s role, such as communicating what is received from his Father, glorifying God, bearing witness to the truth, etc. Hence, sending the Holy Spirit when he is still around is pointless. When he departs from this world, he will not leave them orphaned (14:18), but will give them continual companionship of the Holy Spirit. The word “orphan” not only refers to a child whose father has died, but also to a disciple whose master has died. This image of an orphan suggests that he is not like a master who leaves his disciples helpless, defenceless or unprotected. He will request the Father to give them another Defender to replace his absence and to continue to play his role. Jesus presents the Holy Spirit as his ‘alter ego’ so to say; that is, his representative here on earth after his departure.

Just like Jesus, the Paraclete is the Father’s gift of love for the disciples, and just as Jesus himself is the truth, the Paraclete is the Spirit of truth (14:17). Just as Jesus came to bear testimony to the truth (18:37), the Holy Spirit is now in his place to do the same. Since Jesus himself is the truth, bearing testimony to the truth is the same as bearing witness to Jesus, or to the revelation of God as given by Jesus. He says that the world cannot receive the Spirit of truth because it neither sees nor knows him (14:17). In John’s gospel, the word “world” may mean either (1) the material world, or (2) all the people of the world, or  (3) those who are hostile to Jesus and his followers (15:18). This third type is an ‘unbelieving world,’ that consists of people who reject Jesus’ offer of love and life outright. This is the “world” which is estranged or alienated from God. How can such a world receive the Holy Spirit while it remains unchanged? Since this ‘unbelieving world’ does not accept the truth of Jesus, naturally it won’t accept the Holy Spirit also who further reveals the truth about Jesus. He abides with the disciples (though at present they may not be aware of him). His presence will be of permanent nature (14:16,17). Now God’s dwelling place which was considered to be somewhere out, will be found within the heart of believers.

4.    Application to life                     

Today’s gospel prepares us for the forthcoming feast of Pentecost by reminding us of the promise of Jesus to continue his powerful, permanent and personal presence in our midst through the Holy Spirit. First of all, the best way to prepare for this feast is to remain faithfully obedient to Jesus’ commandments.  In today’s gospel Jesus invites us to love him by obeying his commandments (14:15). His number one commandment is to practice the type of love with which he loved his disciples within our own community of believers. To love one another as Jesus loved precisely means to heal, feed, serve, share, care for, self-sacrifice and forgive others as he did. If we say that we love Jesus, we are called to prove our love for him by choosing to love as he loved. The question is whether we consciously try to choose (by making a decision of the mind) to serve, care for, make self-sacrifice and forgive as Jesus did when our mind is not inclined to do so?

Jesus willed that there should be a special quality of love for “one another” within the Christian community so that their love may become a witness to the world to recognize his presence in them (13:35). This special quality of love among us makes us worthy to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of love and life – promised by Jesus. If the people of the world notice petty bickering, infighting, linguistic/ ethnic/ racial/ caste conflicts, divisions and open fights within the Christian community, it is shameful to say that we are Christ’s followers to people of other faiths. If this happens how can we say that the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts and in our Christian community? People will know that we are Christians not by our love but by our fight. Therefore, as we prepare ourselves for Pentecost, today’s gospel invites us to examine the quality of our love, so that we become worthy temples of the Holy Spirit.

As we know, the Bible presents the Holy Spirit mostly in symbols and metaphors like dove, fire, water, etc. Due to this, for most of us he remains very impersonal. He is almost a forgotten God only to be remembered before we begin a meeting/ workshop/ prayer session/ retreat and on his feast day, namely Pentecost. When we think of him, we mostly remember the picture of a dove, as if he were a bird! In contrast, today’s gospel depicts the Holy Spirit as a permanent and personal friend or companion. We get the impression that he is another friend in addition to Jesus. This friend stands by our side and defends us against all that is unholy, ungodly, untruthful and wicked in us as Christ’s disciples.

It is easy to take Jesus as our intimate friend, since he was born as a human person. Hence, humanly speaking it makes a good sense to sing, “What a friend we have in Jesus” in prayer and worship. On the contrary, because of the abstract nature of the symbols in which the Holy Spirit is presented to us we find it difficult to relate to him as a friend. Actually, when we go to a marketplace or a council or committee meeting, we should imagine in our minds, “What a friend we have in the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit defends us against all dishonest and ungodly ways of the marketplace and guides us to the ways of truth and honesty. Sometimes, we do not know how to manage with controversial issues that come up in meetings and councils. It is the Holy Spirit who puts words in our mouth to speak only what we should in discussions and deliberations, especially when the values of the gospel are negated or challenged. He gives us the courage to stand for truth. All the various words used by translators to translate the word ‘Paraclete’ tell us about the role of the Holy Spirit is various ways – as Counsellor he counsels us about God’s truth; as Advocate, he defends us against the world’s ungodly ways; as Comforter, he comforts us while we face trials; as Consoler, he consoles us in our sorrows; and as Helper he assists us to live out our faith in Jesus the Messiah and grow deeper into it.

But there is a condition. The Holy Spirit does not act automatically or magically just because we speak about him, acquire knowledge about him or believe in him as a truth of our faith. Besides doing so, we need to personally invoke, invite and call our friend (Holy Spirit) to our side by making a concrete decision of the mind or an act of faith: “Come Holy Spirit, come to my side. You are my friend. Stay with me. I’m going on a journey…. business trip….. social gathering….. meeting. Stand by me. Defend me. Guide me. Enlighten me. Give me the wisdom to discern what is right, pure, holy and just. Give me the courage to defend the values of Christ.” Traditionally, we are not taught to have this kind of friendly and personal relationship with the Holy Spirit from childhood. Now it is becomes a matter of our adult faith to  call to our side as a helper whenever we are in trouble, distress, doubt or dilemma. Do we invoke his help in times of danger orr adversity?  Do we seek his advocacy to fight your case against the onslaught of worldly standards and modern secularization? Do we ask him to stand by your side and defend us against the evil and corrupt ways of the world? Blessed are those who develop or cultivate this type of personal spirituality consciously.

What a wonderful plan the Risen Lord has made for us to continue his presence in our midst in the person of the Holy Spirit. We should never think that he has abandoned us like orphans without any defence or protection. He continues to act on our behalf and stand by us as our defender in the world’s court through the Holy Spirit. In the midst of all untruth and falsehood of the world, the Holy Spirit reveals to us the truth about God – his love, his standards, his way of thinking. According to Jesus, the world cannot receive the Spirit of truth because it neither sees nor knows him. How can the world that is opposed to Christ and his gospel values, tha world that prefers darkness see the presence and action of the Holy Spirit? How can the “world” which is blinded to the truth recognize the Spirit of truth? That is why the world still continues to accuse Jesus and makes a mockery of his teachings (values). We too are tempted to blindly agree with these adversaries. It is the Spirit who defends our cause in this trial of truth.

He defends us and gives us the courage to stand for God’s truth against falsehood or untruth in our world. Amidst all sorts of dishonesty, false propaganda, corrupt ways of the world and the bluff of quite a few aggressive advertisements, it is the Holy Spirit who defends our cause in the world’s court. He stands by us as a close friend to protect us against this onslaught of the world. For example, how badly we need the enlightenment and defence of the Holy Spirit to understand the bluff and half-truths of the modern mass media, as well as some of the biased news in our newspapers!

5.    Response to God's Word

When the world puts the values of the gospel like truth on trial, on whose side are we – world’s or Christ’s? Do we believe that the Holy Spirit is our most powerful defender in this case? Do we consciously invoke him in faith? Do we consider the Holy Spirit as a personal friend; does he seem to be close or far away? Do we experience his presence, protection, guidance and enlightenment?

6.    A Prayer

Risen Lord, we do believe in your promise to remain with us permanently through another companion, the Holy Spirit. You fulfilled your promise when you breathed your Spirit after your resurrection. Thank you for your wonderful plan to give us such a powerful defender and protector. Grant that we may feel his presence and experience his guidance in God’s ways.  Amen.