The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us that the Holy Spirit offers us the path to rescue us from discouragement returning our gratitude as friends of Christ.
The reading: from the Acts of the Apostles describes the deliverance of Paul and Silas from prison and the query from the jailer asking ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’
* [16:11–40] The church at Philippi became a flourishing community to which Paul addressed one of his letters (see Introduction to the Letter to the Philippians). (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 16, n.d.)
Psalm 138 is a hymn of thanksgiving and praise.
* [Psalm 138] A thanksgiving to God, who came to the rescue of the psalmist. Divine rescue was not the result of the psalmist’s virtues but of God’s loving fidelity (Ps 138:1–3). The act is not a private transaction but a public act that stirs the surrounding nations to praise God’s greatness and care for the people (Ps 138:4–6). The psalmist, having experienced salvation, trusts that God will always be there in moments of danger (Ps 138:7–8). (Psalms, PSALM 138, n.d.)
The Gospel of John tells of Jesus’ Departure and the coming of the Advocate convicting the persecutors of Christ were wrong about sin and righteousness and judgement.
* [16:8–11] These verses illustrate the forensic character of the Paraclete’s role: in the forum of the disciples’ conscience he prosecutes the world. He leads believers to see (a) that the basic sin was and is refusal to believe in Jesus; (b) that, although Jesus was found guilty and apparently died in disgrace, in reality righteousness has triumphed, for Jesus has returned to his Father; (c) finally, that it is the ruler of this world, Satan, who has been condemned through Jesus’ death (Jn 12:32). (John, CHAPTER 16, n.d.)
Steve Scholer comments that we need to ask how the Holy Spirit is enlightening us and guiding us in our lives, and to look for signs that the Holy Spirit is dwelling in us.
Remember, the seven wonderful gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. How can we nurture and develop each one of these gifts in our prayer life and in our daily interactions with others?
Dear Lord, thank you for sending me the Holy Spirit. Please help me to understand more fully that your Advocate is there to guide me and remind me that I need to continually seek the Holy Spirit’s counsel and advice. Help me to grow closer to you and to live a life filled with love for all and filled with service to you. Amen. (Scholer, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Whatever is not of faith is sin,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"When the Lord said of the Holy Spirit, 'He shall convict the world of sin,' he meant unbelief. For this is what he meant when he said, 'Of sin because they believed not on me.' And he means the same when he says, 'If I had not come and spoken to them, they should not have sin.' (John 15:22). He was not talking about [a time] before they had no sin. Rather, he wanted to indicate that very lack of faith by which they did not believe him even when he was present to them and speaking to them. These were the people who belonged to 'the prince of the power of the air, who now works in the children of unbelief' (Ephesians 2:2). Therefore those in whom there is no faith are the children of the devil because they have nothing in their inner being that would cause them to be forgiven for whatever is committed either by human infirmity, ignorance or any evil will whatever. But the children of God are those who certainly, if they should 'say that they have no sin, deceive themselves, and the truth is not in them,' but immediately (as it continues) 'when they confess their sins' (which the children of the devil do not do, or do not do according to the faith which is peculiar to the children of God), 'he is faithful and just to forgive them their sins and to cleanse them from all unrighteousness'" (1 John 1:9). (excerpt from AGAINST TWO LETTERS OF THE PELAGIANS 3.4) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 16:5-11 comments that in today’s Gospel reading, Jesus is helping his disciples clarify their life’s purpose. He knows that his departure has the potential to upset them terribly, so he assures them that he will send the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to be with them and guide them. He promises that this Spirit will help them stay focused on their most important purpose in life: to love him and to follow him.
If we make it our life’s purpose to be a pencil in God’s hands, we can be assured that, whatever we are doing, Jesus will be right there with us, encouraging us and giving us his grace. We can also be assured that if we go off course, his Spirit will be with us to prompt us and bring us back. Even if we are feeling aimless and lacking in direction, we can trust that God will find a way to break in and move us forward. Your life does have a purpose. And it’s the most glorious purpose ever: to be united with Christ, here and for eternity! “Jesus, help me to become a pencil in your hand.” (Meditation on John 16:5-11, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes that, as a Roman citizen, Paul should never have been imprisoned. The family of the jailer, as was the custom, followed his lead and were baptised. Friar Jude reminds us that sin in John’s Gospel is rejection of Jesus and Jesus' righteousness is in His return to the Father and the judgement that Satan is condemned to live in hate.
Brian McLaren has had many conversations with faithful Christians who are also disillusioned by church and religion. After one evening spent in the company of two Roman Catholic sisters who have stayed in service to the church for over fifty years, McLaren finds encouragement to remain a committed Christian in Jesus’ own decision to stay and wrestle with his Jewish faith even as he was rejected:
“There are more than two options,” I thought. “I don’t have to choose between staying Christian compliantly or leaving Christianity defiantly. I can stay defiantly, like Sr. Ann and Sr. Jean [not their real names]. I can intentionally, consciously, resolutely refuse to leave . . . and with equal intention and resolution, I can refuse to comply with the status quo. I can occupy Christianity with a different way of being Christian.” When I say stay defiantly, I don’t mean ungraciously. Srs. Ann and Jean radiate such gentleness and inner calm that accusations of being ungracious simply don’t stick. No, with firm yet gracious defiance, they will keep speaking their truths and will continue doing so from the inside as long as they can. (Staying Out Loud — Center for Action and Contemplation, 2022)
The strength we need to stay the course as followers of Jesus is a gift of the Advocate that we can access in faith.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 16. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 24, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/16?22
John, CHAPTER 16. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 24, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/16?5
Meditation on John 16:5-11. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 24, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/05/24/387938/
Psalms, PSALM 138. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 24, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/138?1
Scholer, S. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved May 24, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/052422.html
Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Holy Spirit is dwelling in us. Cambridge Dictionary | English Dictionary, Translations & Thesaurus. Retrieved May 24, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=may24
Staying Out Loud — Center for Action and Contemplation. (2022, May 24). Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 24, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/staying-out-loud-2022-05-24/
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