Clear and peaceful

The Holy Spirit figures prominently in the texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary. The Spirit is explicitly mentioned in the account from the Book of Acts in which Paul encounters the disciples of Apollos, the eloquent Jew from Alexandria, who have been baptized in the baptism of John for forgiveness of their sins. Paul baptizes them in the Name of Jesus and connects them with the life power of the Holy Spirit in relationship with the Father and the Son. The infilling of the Holy Spirit allows these disciples to surrender to the Will of God in their mission to spread the Good News. This commitment to the mission is witnessed in the signs of openness and bold proclamation of their experience to others. In the time between Ascension and Pentecost, the Churchprays for openness to the gifts of the Spirit. The Gospel of John implies that the clarity with which the disciples now appear to hear the words of Jesus is a gift to them from the Spirit. Friar Jude Winkler notes that the Gospel of John does not focus on the isolation of Jesus in His Passion but it declares the Love of Father and Son through the Holy Spirit as the courage with which we will glorify God in the face of those who have rejected Him. Peace is the consequence of this Love. It is this peace which the Spirit will radiate through our life to gather the attention of the world.