Eucharistic Gospel Reading for Pentecost Sunday: Year B
John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15
Jesus said to his disciples, “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning;” (John 15:26-27).
Today our Church celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit! This story amazes me. It reminds me of the relationship of Superman with Lois Lane. Clark Kent changes from suit, tie and glasses to blue tights, and red cape and she, nor anybody else can recognize him.
Our Lord Jesus announces that he is going back to the place where he was before he came to us. But he acknowledges that he and the Holy Spirit can’t be with us at the same time. This is a hint that Clark Kent never declared. So, waking up from the Lois Lane in us, let us realize that the Holy Spirit whom we are thankful for this day is none other than the Holy Spirit of Jesus himself; the Same Holy Spirit who met Saul on his way to Damascus later.
We learn from our Acts lesson that this Holy Spirit can use us in ways we know not, for example, speaking in foreign tongues about abilities beyond our normal capacities. All we have to do is receive the Holy Spirit of our Lord Jesus and follow where he leads, and do and say what he tells us to do and say. Jesus says further in our Gospel reading for today, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”
As Peter recalls from Joel, and, as an old man now, I do in fact dream dreams of how things should be. What a great world we would have if we didn’t need police or the military. This may be some of the things Jesus wanted to tell us but we still can’t bear them. We are still not there yet. Let us continue to strive to follow the lead of God’s Holy Spirit through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray:
Dear Lord Jesus, as you have come to us in your holy and invisible presence, lead us and guide us in all truth. Help us to open ourselves to your guidance, even when that guidance is to just be still and quiet and know that you are God. We thank you so much for the presence and leadership of your Holy Spirit in our lives; Amen.
onewhoponders 