6th Sunday of Easter
First Reading: Acts 8:5-8,14-17
Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to what was said by Philip, hearing and seeing the signs that he did, for unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, came out of many who were possessed; and many others who were paralyzed or lame were cured. So there was great joy in that city. Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Responsorial Psalm: 66:1-3.4-5.6-7.16,20
Response: Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
Shout joyfully to God, all the earth, sing praise to the glory of his name; proclaim his glorious praise. Say to God, “How tremendous are your deeds!” (Response)
“Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you, sing praise to your name!” Come and see the works of God, his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam. (Response)
He has changed the sea into dry land; through the river they passed on foot; therefore let us rejoice in him. He rules by his might forever. (Response)
Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare what he has done for me. Blessed be God who refused me not my prayer or his kindness! (Response)
Second Reading: 1 Peter 3:15-18Response: Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
Shout joyfully to God, all the earth, sing praise to the glory of his name; proclaim his glorious praise. Say to God, “How tremendous are your deeds!” (Response)
“Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you, sing praise to your name!” Come and see the works of God, his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam. (Response)
He has changed the sea into dry land; through the river they passed on foot; therefore let us rejoice in him. He rules by his might forever. (Response)
Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare what he has done for me. Blessed be God who refused me not my prayer or his kindness! (Response)
Beloved: Sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God's will, than to suffer for doing evil. For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.
Gospel Reading: John 14:15-21
Jesus
said to his disciples: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him."
Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus
Jesus has come into this world to give us the presence of God always. He himself is Immanuel (God with us). Now he is saying that he is going to ask the father and the Holy Spirit is going to be with the disciples always. The followers are not going to b left as orphans. Jesus himself is going to be with the followers. And the followers will realize his presence in them. Presence of Jesus will not be seen by the world but the followers will feel his presence.
The presence of Jesus is like the presence of the father in Jesus and how Jesus himself is present in the father. The indwelling of the father in Jesus is invisible but certain. The disciples themselves should live so with the realization that Jesus is with them living and working. This indwelling is further strengthened by the presence of the spirit. This indwelling of the father in the son and the son in the followers is confirmed by the love.
The presence of Jesus is like the presence of the father in Jesus and how Jesus himself is present in the father. The indwelling of the father in Jesus is invisible but certain. The disciples themselves should live so with the realization that Jesus is with them living and working. This indwelling is further strengthened by the presence of the spirit. This indwelling of the father in the son and the son in the followers is confirmed by the love.
