GOSPEL READING:
John 15:26-16:426 But when the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me; 27 and you also are witnesses, because you have been with me from the beginning. [John 16] 1 I have said all this to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues; indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do this because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you of them. I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.
Meditation: Where do you find help and support when you
most need it? True friendship is strengthened in adversity. Jesus
offers his disciples the best and truest of friends. Who is this
promised friend? Jesus calls the Holy Spirit our Counselor
and Advocate (also translated Paraclete or Helper).
How does the Holy Spirit help us as the counselor? Counselor
is a legal term for the person who defends someone against an
adversary and who guides that person during the ordeal of trial.
The Holy Spirit is our Advocate and Helper who guides and
strengthens us and brings us safely through the challenges and
adversities we must face in this life.
Person and role of the Holy Spirit
As Jesus approaches the hour he was to be glorified - through his
death on the cross and his resurrection - he revealed more fully
to his disciples the person and role of the Holy Spirit. What does
Jesus tell us about the Holy Spirit? First, the Holy Spirit is
inseparably one with the Father and the Son. It is the Holy Spirit
who gives life - the very life of God - and who makes faith come
alive in hearts and minds of people who are receptive to God's
word.
The Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to know God personally.
He gives us experiential knowledge of God as our Father. The
Spirit witnesses to our spirit that the Father has indeed sent his
only begotten Son into the world to redeem it and has raised his
Son, Jesus Christ, from the dead and has seated him at his right
hand in glory and power.
The Holy Spirit reveals to us the knowledge, wisdom and plan of
God for the ages and the Spirit enables us to see with the "eyes
of faith" what the Father and the Son are doing. Through the gift
and working of the Holy Spirit we become witnesses to the great
work of God in Christ Jesus.
Spirit strengthens us in faith and courage
Jesus warned his disciples that they could expect persecution just
as Jesus was opposed and treated with hostility. We have been
given the Holy Spirit to help us live as disciples of Jesus
Christ. The Spirit gives us courage and perseverance when we meet
adversities and challenges. Do you pray for the Holy Spirit to
strengthen you in faith, hope and love and to give you courage and
perseverance when you meet adversities and challenges?
O merciful God, fill our hearts, we pray, with the graces of your Holy Spirit; with love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control. Teach us to love those who hate us; to pray for those who despitefully use us; that we may be the children of your love, our Father, who makes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. In adversity grant us grace to be patient; in prosperity keep us humble; may we guard the door of our lips; may we lightly esteem the pleasures of this world, and thirst after heavenly things; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Psalm 149:1-6a,9b
1 Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the faithful!
2 Let Israel be glad in his Maker, let the sons of Zion rejoice in their King!
3 Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with timbrel and lyre!
4 For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with victory.
5 Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their couches.
6a Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
9b This is glory for all his faithful ones. Praise the LORD!
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: The Comforter is with us in our troubles, by Cyril of Jerusalem, 430-543 A.D.
"He is called the Comforter because he comforts and encourages us
and helps our infirmities. We do not know what we should pray for
as we should, but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us,
with groanings that cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26), that is, he
makes intercession to God. Very often, someone has been outraged
and dishonored unjustly for the sake of Christ. Martyrdom is at
hand; tortures on every side, and fire, and sword, and savage
beasts and the pit. But the Holy Spirit softly whispers to him,
'Wait on the Lord' (Psalm 27:14). What is now happening to you is
a small matter; the reward will be great. Suffer a little while,
and you will be with angels forever. 'The sufferings of this
present time are not worth comparing to the glory that shall be
revealed in us' (Romans 8:18). He portrays to the person the
kingdom of heaven. He gives him a glimpse of the paradise of
delight." (excerpt from CATECHETICAL LECTURES
16.20)
