6th Week of Easter 2023 - Tuesday - Advocate for Christ

 The Gospel of John’s account of the Last Supper is quite different from the other Gospels. For one, St. John omits the institution of the Eucharist and includes the washing of the Apostles’ feet.  John’s Last Supper is also a much longer text, spanning several chapters compared to just a few verses in the other Gospels. The bulk of those chapters consists of one scholars call the Lord’s Farewell Discourse in which Jesus delivers one of the most moving, theologically rich, and mystical passages in the whole New Testament. 

We fittingly read from the Farewell Discourse as we near Pentecost, for in that passage, the Lord speaks about how upon his departure to the Father, the Holy Spirit will be sent upon the Church, ushering in a brand-new chapter in God’s Saving plan in which the world will become convicted for the Gospel. 

And in this announcement of the Spirit’s coming, the Lord Jesus uses a fascinating title for the Spirit, the Jesus calls him, in Greek, the parakletos, the paraclete—a word having legal connotations. The word is even translated as Advocate, in our English translation, a title given to lawyers who defend their clients. 

And that’s precisely one of the tasks the Holy Spirit is sent to do. He acts as a sort of defense attorney, to prove the case for Jesus Christ. The Paraclete throughout history defends Christ’s claim to be God, to be the Messiah, to be the Savior. He advocates for Christ and for belief in Christ. And his work: the case for Christ, takes place on the world stage in every age until the Lord’s return. And the evidence with which the Spirit uses to prove Christ’s case, is us, the Church.

You want proof that Jesus Christ is truly God and Lord? Look at the evidence produced by the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church. Look at the courage of the martyrs; look at the saints he has produced, look at their miracles, their righteousness. Look at the unity he has brought among the disparate people of the world who accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Look at the patience and joy and understanding and knowledge he gives to ordinary people who pray.

Every Christian is to be a piece of evidence in the Spirit’s case that the world might believe. The words and works he inspires, the spiritual fruit he cultivates, are all testimony to convince and convict the world that Jesus Christ is Lord for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

That all bishops, priests, catechists, and parents may be faithful in preaching and teaching the saving Gospel of Christ.

For an increase in the gifts of the Holy Spirit among all Christians, and for all who are persecuted for the faith. For those who do not believe in God and for those who have fallen away from the Church.

For all priests, that they may be ardent yet gentle preachers and faithful stewards of the sacred mysteries. For the sanctification of all priests: for the endurance to remain faithful to their calling amidst so many challenges, and for an increase in vocations to the ordained priesthood.

For the sick, the suffering, those in nursing homes, hospitals, and hospice care, for the underemployed and unemployed, for the imprisoned, those with addictions, for those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, that the Spirit of Consolation may comfort them.

For the deceased members of our families, friends and parish, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for all those who fought and died for our freedom.

O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.

4th Sunday after Easter 2021 (EF) - The Paraclete

 The Gospel of John’s account of the Last Supper is quite different from the other Gospels. For one, St. John omits the institution of the Eucharist and includes the washing of the Apostles’ feet.  John’s Last Supper is also a much longer text, spanning several chapters compared to just a few verses in other Gospels. And this is so, principally because it contains what scholars call The Lord’s Farewell Discourse in which the Lord delivers one of the most moving, theologically rich, and mystical passages in the whole New Testament. 

The Lord’s Farewell follows the example of the farewell speeches of the great men and women from the Old Testament: people like Jacob, Moses, David, Tobit, Noah, Rebecca, Isaac, and Enoch. Addressing those who are closest to them, they speak about their impending deaths, and offer comfort in the face of the grief their announcement produces.  They promise how after the departure, their deaths, God’s care and God’s saving plan will continue. And they leave instructions on how those left behind should behave.

The Lord’s farewell speech fits this pattern well: he speaks about his coming crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension to the Father, and offers instructions for his disciples: they are to love one another, by following his example of humble self-sacrificial service. 

On this fourth Sunday after Easter, the Gospel is taken from a portion of the Lord’s Last Supper farewell discourse in which is explanation his news of his going to the Father so fills the disciples hearts with sadness that they are rendered speechless. “I have spoken these things to you, and sorrow has filled your heart”. Then the Lord then makes an astonishing claim that it’s even hard for us to understand. He says that it’s better for everyone that he does go than if he stayed on earth. 

He must go, he explains, that the Holy Spirit may descend and usher in the final age—the end chapter in God’s Saving Plan in which the world will become convicted of the Gospel. 

The Lord uses a fascinating title for the Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity. The Lord calls him, in Greek, the parakletos, the paraclete—a word having legal connotations, sometimes even translated as Counselor or Advocate, titles given to lawyers. One the Paraclete comes, he will act as a sort of defense attorney, to prove the case for Jesus Christ. The Paraclete will defend Christ’s claim to be God, to be the Messiah, to be the Savior. And this legal case will take place on the world stage over the course of the remainder of human history. And the evidence with which the Spirit will use to prove Christ’s case, is us, the Church.

You want to proof that Jesus Christ is truly God and Lord? Look at the evidence produced by the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church. Look at the courage of the martyrs; look at the saints he has produced, look at their miracles. Look at the unity he has brought among the disparate people of the world who accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Look at the patience and joy and understanding and knowledge he gives to ordinary people who pray.

The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, helps us convince—to convict—the world about the error of sin, and the travesty of not believing and following Jesus. He helps us  prove to the world that God is real and Jesus is worth following. He helps us learn our faith, that we may teach it and preach it with clarity and conviction. And arranges opportunities for us to share the faith with those who yearn for truth and righteousness.  The Paraclete even helps to convince us to turn away from the sins that still linger in us, the destructive habits, the behaviors and attitudes, that are incompatible with the Christian way.  For the enemy is a sort of lawyer too that will use our sins and selfishness as counterpoints. But, as Bishop Perez used to say, the Spirit works through us and sometimes even in spite of us, thanks be to God.

Over half a million adults became Catholic at Easter this year. The Holy Spirit, through the preaching of the Church, through the faithfulness of Catholics like ourselves, drew them, guided them to the truth of Christ. 

May we continue to cooperate with the Spirit’s work to convict the world, giving evidence to the truths of our faith by the integrity of our lives for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

6th Week of Easter 2018 - Tuesday - Convicting the World

The Gospel of John’s account of the Last Supper is quite different from the other Gospels. For one, St. John omits the institution of the Eucharist and includes the washing of the Apostles’ feet.  John’s Last Supper is also a much longer text, spanning several chapters compared to just a few verses in other Gospels. And this is so, principally because it contains what scholars call Jesus’ Farewell Discourse in which Jesus delivers one of the most moving, theologically rich, and mystical passages in the whole New Testament.

Jesus’s Farewell follows the example of the farewell speeches of the great men and women from the Old Testament: people like Jacob, Moses, David, Tobit, Noah, Rebecca, Isaac, and Enoch.
Addressing those who are closest to them, they speak about their impending deaths, and offer comfort in the face of the grief their announcement produces.  They promise how God’s care and God’s saving plan will continue. And they leave instructions on how those left behind should behave.

Jesus’ farewell discourse fits this pattern well: he speaks about his coming crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension to the Father. Jesus certainly offers instructions for his disciples, as well: they are to love one another, by following his example of humble self-sacrificial service.

Today we hear how news of Jesus’ going to the Father so fills the disciples hearts that they are rendered speechless. Jesus makes the astonishing claim that it is better that he goes than if he stayed. Because the sending of the Spirit will usher in a brand-new chapter in God’s Saving Plan in which the world will become convicted for the Gospel.

The Spirit Advocate, like a defense attorney, will prove the case for Jesus Christ. He will defend Christ’s claim to be God, to be the Messiah, to be the Savior. This great court case will play out over the remainder of human history, and the evidence with which the Spirit will use to prove the case, is us, the Church.

You want to know Jesus is Lord? Look at what the Spirit has done throughout human history and continues to do. Look at the Saints he has produced. Look at the miracles he has accomplished and continues to accomplish. Look at the Courage He inspires and the consolation he brings to the suffering.

To those with eyes, let them see, the work of the Spirit. May each of us cooperate as well as we can with the Spirit, that others may come to know the evidence of God, Father, Son, and Spirit, working in our life.

May He continue to use us to convict the world that Jesus is Lord, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all bishops, priests, catechists, and parents may be faithful in preaching and teaching the saving Gospel of Christ.
For those who do not believe in God and for those who have fallen away from the Church.
For an increase in the gifts of the Holy Spirit among all Christians, and for all who are persecuted for the faith.
For the sick, the suffering, those in nursing homes, hospitals, and hospice care, for the underemployed and unemployed, for the imprisoned, those with addictions, for those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, that the Spirit of Consolation may comfort them.
For the deceased members of our families, friends and parish, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for all those who fought and died for our freedom.
O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.

6th Week of Easter 2018 - Monday - Called to Testify

In many of the stories of the saints, the holy ones are brought before judges, governors, kings, even emperors, to give testimony for their Christians faith.

In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus taught how on His account, his disciples would be “brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.”

I think of the Apostles being brought before the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem, or the first martyrs of Rome, saints like Felicity and Perpetua and Agatha, I think of that wonderful scene from the Man for All Seasons, of St. Thomas More standing before the English tribunal or the Ugandan St. Charles Lwanga and his companions refusing the perverted desires of the Ugandan King.

 Where are we to get such courage, such eloquence of word and deed?

As we near the end of the Easter season and the Great Feast of Pentecost, our readings speak of the Advocate, the Paraclete, who comes to the aid of Christians in testifying to Jesus.

In the Greco-Roman courtroom, your paraclete or advocate was the one who stood at your side and gave you help and assistance as your court case was tried.  Your advocate gave you counsel, pleaded your case, and interceded on their behalf, to teach them what they most know, to give them the words the must speak, when called upon to testify.

I think this is why some Christians back-off from or are hesitant to form a vibrant relationship with the Holy Spirit. We sense the Holy Spirit wants to impel us out of our comfort zones to witness to Christ. And that’s terrifying. So we “fall-away” from forming that deep powerful relationship with the Advocate.

But, Christians are to be witnesses to Jesus Christ in the courtroom of this world. Many will form their judgments about the truth of Christianity based on our testimony. And if they find us cowering in fear of witnessing to our faith, why should they convert? If we don't show conviction for Christ, why should they?

May we grow in our trust in the aid of the Holy Spirit, who helps us to be faithful to our vocation to boldly witness to Christ for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all bishops, priests, catechists, and parents may be faithful in preaching and teaching the saving Gospel of Christ.

For those who do not believe in God and for those who have fallen away from the Church.

For an increase in the gifts of the Holy Spirit among all Christians, and for all who are persecuted for the faith.

For the sick, the suffering, those in nursing homes, hospitals, and hospice care, for the underemployed and unemployed, for the imprisoned, those with addictions, for those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, that the Spirit of Consolation may comfort them.

For the deceased members of our families, friends and parish, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for all those who fought and died for our freedom.

O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.

Tuesday - 6th Week of Easter 2017 - Spirit of Truth, Pillar of Fire

Throughout the New Testament the third person of the Holy Trinity is revealed by many different names and titles.

He is of course called the Holy Spirit. We read in the Acts of the Apostles how those gathered in the Upper Room were “filled with the Holy Spirit”.

He is called Comforter, Counselor, Advocate. All three titles are translations of the same Greek word, Parakletos from which we get the word “Paraclete” That title is found in today’s Gospel.
St. Paul in Romans calls him “Spirit of Life”; the Holy Spirit imparts the life that Jesus died to win for us.

This Sunday and in today’s Gospel, he is called the “Spirit of Truth.” Jesus promised that, after the resurrection, the Holy Spirit would come to “guide you into all truth.”

Many times in the Gospels, the apostles seem confused about the words of Jesus, they don’t seem to comprehend his words. But after Pentecost, after they received the Spirit of Truth, they are preaching, teaching, explaining, and helping people understand what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.
This is one of our tasks, this is part of our mission, this is the work of the Holy Spirit, to guide others to truth.

Because the Spirit has been given to the Church and has enlightened her teachings, we are able to discern the foolishness of the ways of the world; how the ways of the world lead to destruction and separation from God.

Just as God gave the Israelites the pillar of fire to escape their slavery in Egypt, to guide them through the treacherous desert, to light their way in the darkness wilderness with all of its pagan ways, the fire of the Holy Spirit has been given to the Church to guide us through the darkness of the ages.

The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, helps us convince—convict—the world about the error of sin and not believing in Jesus. He helps convince us to turn away from some of the sins that still linger in us, the destructive habits, the behaviors and attitudes that tear down relationships instead of building them up. He helps us show how Christianity, though not popular with the world, is attractive to those who yearn for truth and righteousness.

Over half a million adults became Catholic at Easter this year. The Holy Spirit, through the preaching of the Church, through the faithfulness of Catholics like ourselves, drew them, guided them to the truth of Christ.

May we continue to cooperate with the Spirit’s work to convict the world, and cooperate more fully by being bearers of truth always for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all bishops, priests, catechists, and parents may be faithful in preaching and teaching the saving Gospel of Christ.

For the healing of divisions caused by heresy, moral and doctrinal error among Christians.

For those who do not believe in God and for those who have fallen away from the Church.

For the sick, the suffering, those in nursing homes, hospitals, and hospice care, for the underemployed and unemployed, for the imprisoned, those with addictions, for those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, that the Spirit of Consolation may comfort them.

For the deceased members of our families, friends and parish, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for all those who fought and died for our freedom.

O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.