The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate the impact of the promptings on the Spirit on our experience of goodness, truth, and love.
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes Philip in Samaria and how they received the Holy Spirit.
* [8:16] Here and in Acts 10:44–48 and Acts 19:1–6, Luke distinguishes between baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus and the reception of the Spirit. In each case, the Spirit is conferred through members of the Twelve (Peter and John) or their representative (Paul). This may be Luke’s way of describing the role of the church in the bestowal of the Spirit. Elsewhere in Acts, baptism and the Spirit are more closely related (Acts 1:5; 11:16). (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 8, n.d.)
Psalm 66 is praise for God’s Goodness to Israel.
* [Psalm 66] In the first part (Ps 66:1–12), the community praises God for powerful acts for Israel, both in the past (the exodus from Egypt and the entry into the land [Ps 66:6]) and in the present (deliverance from a recent but unspecified calamity [Ps 66:8–12]). In the second part (Ps 66:13–20), an individual from the rescued community fulfills a vow to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving. As often in thanksgivings, the rescued person steps forward to teach the community what God has done (Ps 66:16–20). (Psalms, PSALM 66, n.d.)
The reading from the First letter of Peter comments on Christian Suffering for doing good.
* [3:13–22] This exposition, centering on 1 Pt 3:17, runs as follows: by his suffering and death Christ the righteous one saved the unrighteous (1 Pt 3:18); by his resurrection he received new life in the spirit, which he communicates to believers through the baptismal bath that cleanses their consciences from sin. As Noah’s family was saved through water, so Christians are saved through the waters of baptism (1 Pt 3:19–22). Hence they need not share the fear of sinners; they should rather rejoice in suffering because of their hope in Christ. Thus their innocence disappoints their accusers (1 Pt 3:13–16; cf. Mt 10:28; Rom 8:35–39).
* [3:18] Suffered: very many ancient manuscripts and versions read “died.” Put to death in the flesh: affirms that Jesus truly died as a human being. Brought to life in the spirit: that is, in the new and transformed existence freed from the limitations and weaknesses of natural human life (cf. 1 Cor 15:45). (1 Peter, CHAPTER 3, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus proclaims the Promise of the Holy Spirit.
* [14:16] Another Advocate: Jesus is the first advocate (paraclete); see 1 Jn 2:1, where Jesus is an advocate in the sense of intercessor in heaven. The Greek term derives from legal terminology for an advocate or defense attorney, and can mean spokesman, mediator, intercessor, comforter, consoler, although no one of these terms encompasses the meaning in John. The Paraclete in John is a teacher, a witness to Jesus, and a prosecutor of the world, who represents the continued presence on earth of the Jesus who has returned to the Father.
* [14:17] The Spirit of truth: this term is also used at Qumran, where it is a moral force put into a person by God, as opposed to the spirit of perversity. It is more personal in John; it will teach the realities of the new order (Jn 14:26), and testify to the truth (Jn 14:6). While it has been customary to use masculine personal pronouns in English for the Advocate, the Greek word for “spirit” is neuter, and the Greek text and manuscript variants fluctuate between masculine and neuter pronouns.
* [14:18] I will come to you: indwelling, not parousia. (John, CHAPTER 14, n.d.)
Tamora Whitney comments that in the Gospel Jesus talks about his Father-Son bond with God, and of course their relationship was absolutely more than a regular father and son. He says, “realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you.” There is a connection that is beyond death. Jesus rose again and if we accept him, he lives in each of us.
He set himself as a precedent. His love continues and he continues to love us, and we continue to love him. And love does not die. Those we love who have gone before continue to love us too and we continue to love them. I feel certain of Jesus’ love, and on Mother’s day I feel certain of my mother’s love and I think she knows I still love her too. Jesus says, “whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him." Love never dies. (Whitney, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “There is no love without the Holy Spirit,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"How, then, did the apostles love, but in the Holy Spirit? And yet they are commanded to love him and keep his commandments before they have received him and, in fact, in order to receive him. And yet, without having that Spirit, they certainly could not love him and keep his commandments. We are therefore to understand that he who loves already has the Holy Spirit, and by what he has he becomes worthy of a fuller possession, that by having more he may love more. The disciples, therefore, already had that Holy Spirit whom the Lord promised, for without him they could not call him Lord. But they had him not as yet in the way promised by the Lord... He was yet to be given them in an ampler measure [at Pentecost]." (excerpt from TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 74.1-2) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 8:5-8, 14-17 asks why did the apostles in Jerusalem even bother to send Peter and John to Samaria? What more could the people possibly need? The Holy Spirit, that’s what! Just as he had made all the difference for the apostles on the day of Pentecost, so did he make all the difference for the people of Samaria—and for us.
It’s one thing to muster what strength you have to fight sin, but it’s another thing altogether to experience the indwelling Spirit giving you his own grace to say no to temptation and keeping your faith alive in times of difficulty.
The truth is, we need the Holy Spirit to renew our minds, to fill our hearts, and to keep us connected to Jesus.
Pentecost is just two weeks away. What do you need the Holy Spirit to do in you?
“Come, Holy Spirit, and fill the hearts of your faithful. Come, fill my heart!” (Meditation on Acts 8:5-8, 14-17, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler compares the reception of the Holy Spirit in Baptism to the baptism of John. The Letter of Peter discusses Christian suffering and our invitation to join Jesus on the Cross. Friar Jude notes that our ideas of goodness and fulfillment are the whispers of the Holy Spirit.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, clarifies how evil, sin, and salvation are collective realities. Over the years, it has become increasingly clear to Fr. Richard that we are confused about the nature of evil. We don’t seem to understand what evil is, how it operates, or what we can do personally or collectively to reduce its power over us and its impact on our world. We really must face these questions, even though they are difficult and unpleasant to think about. Our planet’s life-sustaining systems are disintegrating. Authoritarianism is emerging all over the world. Evil is clearly at work, but what can we do about it?
When small, easily forgivable transgressions are labeled “sins” and equated with evil, we trivialize the very real notion of evil and divert our attention from the real thing. Before it becomes personal and shameable, evil is often culturally agreed upon, admired, and deemed necessary. The apostle Paul already had the prescient genius to recognize this, and I believe he taught that both sin and salvation are, first of all, corporate and social realities. In fact, this recognition could and should be acknowledged as one of his major contributions to history. I believe it still will be.
We largely missed that essential point, and thus found ourselves in the tight grip of monstrous social evils in Christian nations, all the way down to the modern era. Therefore, we also lost out on the benefit of a corporate notion of salvation that far exceeded anyone’s individual worthiness or unworthiness.
We are all guilty with one another’s sin and not just our own.
We are all good with one another’s goodness and not just our own.
My life is not just about “me.” (Rohr, 2023)
We are connected to the Life of the Trinity and the people we encounter through the Love between the Father and Son, we experience as the Holy Spirit.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 8. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 14, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/8?5
John, CHAPTER 14. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 14, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/14?15
Meditation on Acts 8:5-8, 14-17. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 14, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/05/14/677583/
1 Peter, CHAPTER 3. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 14, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1peter/3?15
Psalms, PSALM 66. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 14, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/66?1
Rohr, R. (2023, May 14). Evil Is a Social Reality — Center for Action and Contemplation. Richard Rohr. Retrieved May 14, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/evil-is-a-social-reality-2023-05-14/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Counselor Will Be with You for Ever. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 14, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=may14
Whitney, T. (2023, May 13). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved May 14, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/051423.html
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