Epistle: James 1: 17-21; Gospel: John 16: 5-14 Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The resurrected Lord departs from earth by ascending to the right of the Father that God's plan for us may reach its completion. "But now I am going to him who sent me...it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go I will send him to you." (Jn 16: 5, 7) The Holy Spirit will be the presence of God in the Church, guiding the Church and giving it life until the end of the world: "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you." (Jn 16: 13-14)
When he proclaims and promises the coming of the Holy Spirit, Jesus calls him the 'Paraclete,' literally, 'he who is called to one's side,' ad-vocatus. (Jn 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7) 'Paraclete' is commonly translated by 'consoler,' and Jesus is the first consoler. (Cf. 1 Jn 2:1) The Lord also called the Holy Spirit 'the Spirit of truth.' (Jn 16:13) (CCC 692) The Holy Spirit dwells in the Church in many ways. The Catechism enumerates eight principal works of the indwelling Spirit, "the Lord, the giver of life": "The Church, a communion living in the faith of the apostles which she transmits, is the place where we know the Holy Spirit: -in the Scriptures he inspired; -in the Tradition, to which the Church Fathers are always timely witnesses; -in the Church's Magisterium, which he assists; -in the sacramental liturgy, through its words and symbols, in which the Holy Spirit puts us into communion with Christ; -in prayer, wherein he intercedes for us; -in the charisms and ministries by which the Church is built up; -in the signs of apostolic and missionary life; -in the witness of saints through whom he manifests his holiness and continues the work of salvation." Invoke the Holy Spirit as Lord of your life in prayer, that all your thoughts, words and deeds may be of divine truth and a foretaste everlasting life. "Come, Holy Spirit!" I look forward to meeting you here again next week as, together, we "meet Christ in the liturgy", Father Cusick Meeting Christ in the Liturgy (Publish with permission. ) |
