The Gift Of Promise

Message from Fr. Jose Koluthara, CMI

Lord Jesus, help us experience the promised Paraclete as a person, a presence and a power in our life situations.

 

One of Jesus’ promises is featured in this Sunday’s Gospel (Jn 14:15-21): the promise of his own continued support and presence in the person of the Paraclete or Spirit of truth.

When considering all the things that Jesus could have promised his own, the promise of the Spirit becomes all the more significant. Certainly, it was in Jesus’ power and it may even have been the unspoken wish of his disciples that he would promise them an easy mission, spent among people who shared their traditions a mission that they could exercise in relative comfort of their own homes and hometowns. Jesus could have promised his disciples fame, popularity and a warm welcome from those to whom they reached out with good news. Jesus could have promised his followers power to dominate. Jesus could have assured his that they would be immunized against hostility and prejudice. He could have promised peace without a price and justice without hard work and sacrifice. Jesus could have promised those who gave themselves over to his ministry a life without suffering and pain. But all of these promises, however appealing, pale into insignificance when compared to the promise Jesus did make and keep: the promise of the Paraclete or Holy Spirit. A person, a presence and a power like none other, the promised Paraclete would remain with the disciples and continues to remain with and within those who love and believe in Jesus.

In today’s 1st reading (Acts 8:14-17), Luke recounts some of the first inroads made among Samaritans. The goal of the first disciples challenges us to a similarly zealous concern for those in faraway places who suffer from natural catastrophes such as earthquake, tsunami and mudslides as well as catastrophes devised by human hatred and injustice, e.g. ethnic cleansing, war, tribal conflict, trade embargos that starve the poor, etc.

In today’s 2nd reading (1Pet 3:15-18), the ancient writer reminds us that the Spirit also enables believers to endure the suffering that comes from doing good.

As is reflected in today’s Gospel, the Paraclete enables those who follow Jesus to retain their union with him and with the Father. So also will the Spirit of truth prompt Jesus’ disciples to keep and obey his commandments.