Sixth Sunday of Easter
Acts 15:1-2, 22-29, Rev 21:10-14, 22-23, John 14:23-29
Dear sisters and brothers,
It is the Holy Spirit who is to teach us all things. At the heart of this teaching are important ways for us to live. Always in the early Church we see that the Holy Spirit does not speak just to one person alone, but to the assembly. The Holy Spirit speaks to you and to me and to each one who believes. Yet when we come together as a Church to try to make decisions, it is very clear that the Holy Spirit has not given the same message to each one of us.
So why do we say that the Holy Spirit speaks to us? We recognize that each one of us, as a believing Christian, is striving to listen to the Lord. It is by listening to one another that we come to understand what the Spirit is saying. Even in the meeting described in today’s first reading there are differences among these early Christians. They met, they listened to one another, they may even have argued among themselves. Finally, they were able to agree to a decision together. This is how the Holy Spirit works.
It is also clear from these early accounts and from the history of the Church that there is a special role for Peter in these assemblies. Peter can be wrong and Peter can take a wrong decision in his actions, but when he meets with the communities and listens and then decides, his decisions are accepted.
Today in our Church and in the Churches, we need to listen to one another again. It is the Holy Spirit who will teach us all things. If we listen to today’s Gospel, we must first keep God’s word in our lives. This is the first challenge: to keep God’s word. If we are faithful to God’s word, then we will be able to hear the Holy Spirit speaking to us and to one another.
What we often find, instead of following God’s word and listening to one another, is that we listen to the word of the world and close our ears to one another. At the heart of the Gospel, of all of Scripture, is this basic attitude of listening to the word and letting it form us.
The particular challenge of the early Church is still with us: what can be allowed and what should be forbidden to the followers of Christ? Who belongs to the Church? How does salvation work since the Holy Spirit seems to work everywhere and at all times? We can only reflect on these questions and ponder them deeply if we are formed by the word of God.
Today’s readings invite us once more to be formed by the word. Today’s readings invite us to listen to those who are formed by God’s word. If we are formed by the word of God and listen to one another, our hearts can begin to be touched by the Holy Spirit in wonderful and special ways. Let us try to respond to these invitations today. Let us love the Lord with all our being.
Peace and all good!
Fr. Valery Burusu
Parochial Administrator