Sixth Sunday of Easter

How many of us have wished, in moments of indecision, that God would send us a clear sign about what we are called to do at that moment? At times like these, when we are surrounded by turmoil and indecision, it can be easy to feel as though God has abandoned us and left us alone to fend for ourselves. But the Scripture Readings for today’s Mass, as we get ever closer to the great Feast of Pentecost, are reassuring. We are not alone, but have God, the Church, and the people around us to give us guidance and support when we need it – as long as we are open to the different ways in which the Holy Spirit operates in our daily lives.

In the First Reading (Acts 15:1-2, 22-29), we see the Church, our brothers and sisters in the faith, as a support system to help us understand what is required of us. The earliest Gentile disciples in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia were misled into believing that they had to follow the ancient Mosaic law if they were to be saved – if they were to be Christians. They were essentially told that they must first become Jewish and follow the laws of Judaism in order to become Christians. But the Apostles, guided by the Holy Spirit in their discussions, realized that Gentile believers were not called to the same strict code of law that the Jewish people had been, and the sent emissaries led by Paul and Barnabas to encourage the Gentiles and lighten their burden. Sometimes, as in this case, the Holy Spirit speaks to us through the word of those around us, the faithful people who listen to the voice of the Spirit and help us to understand.

In today’s Gospel (John 14:23-29), Jesus assures us that the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, will be with us if we stay close to God, if we listen to God’s word and allow God to make his dwelling with us. After his Ascension into heaven, Jesus sent his Holy Spirit to guide us to the truth – to remind us of the words that Jesus spoke to the Apostles and continues to speak to us through Scripture. The Holy Spirit who dwells within us as a result of Baptism and Confirmation, speaks to our heart particularly during times of prayer, and guides us to the truth and to form a proper conscience.

How do we know that the Holy Spirit is speaking to us? One way is to stay close to God through daily prayer, reading of Scripture, and reception of the Sacraments. One particular form of prayer is the nightly Examen, in which we review the day past and see how God has worked in that day – where we received special blessings, where we were effective in our discipleship, and where we might have failed. Through the daily practice of examining our lives, we can more easily see how God has spoken to us that day, whether through prayer or through the words or actions of others.

As we prepare to celebrate Pentecost in just two weeks from now, let us always remember that the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, longs to speak God’s word to us and guide us. We only need to be open to the promptings of that Holy Spirit.