Hope and another Counselor

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today presents texts to help us in the everyday task of being a believer. The Book of Acts recalls the success of the visit of Philip to Samaria where many “received the Holy Spirit” after the invocation in prayer by Peter and John. The people of Samaria were attracted by the witness of Philip, which Fr Larry Gillick SJ describes this week as “We are invited to live in hope so distinctly that people will ask us for an explanation.” The hope expressed by the psalmist today is in the saving power of God who “turned the sea into dry land;

men passed through the river on foot”(Psalm 66:6). This is evidence to the psalmist of the steadfast love of God. The first letter of Peter offers believers advice on how to respond to the interest people may express in the hope of believers. “Always be ready to make your defence to anyone who demands from you an account of the hope that is in you; 16yet do it with gentleness and reverence.* Keep your conscience clear” (1 Peter 3:15-16) The Gospel of John proclaims the link with the Divine which will empower our visible hope as believers.

He will send a kind of “holy Lawyer” to be their Advocate, Consulter, Inspirationer, and Encourager. The Spirit is sent to confirm the world in the simple truth that we are in Christ Who is in the Father. Keeping Jesus’ commandments by our doing things, begins with our receiving firstly the command that Jesus is. This Command is to allow ourselves to be loved and to accept our being in Christ by His being Savior. Jesus saves us first from false identities and being lost in the search. The Spirit is sent to continue our becoming more in Christ. (Gillick, 2011)

The intimate relationship with the Divine through the resonance of our indwelling Spirit with the Spirit is our becoming one who abides in the Christ who is in the Father. Pentecost is the feast, two weeks away when we celebrate our human community in the Spirit.

Gillick, L. (2011, May). Daily Reflection. Retrieved May 29, 2011, from Creighton University On Line Ministries: http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/052911.html