St. John 15:26-27; 16:1-4
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: When the Advocate has come, Whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth Who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness concerning Me. And you also will bear witness, because from the beginning you are with Me. These things I have spoken to you that you may not be scandalized. They will expel you from the synagogues. Yes, the hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think he is offering worship to God. And these things they will do because they have not known the Father nor Me. But these things I have spoken to you, that when the time for them has come you may remember that I told you.
On Good Friday, Pilate asked Jesus: Quid est veritas - “What is truth?” It is a question that is still being asked today. Where do we find truth? Whom are we to believe? Where are we to look for guidance in the great questions that face us as Christians and as citizens? Jesus promised to send “the Spirit of Truth.” And it is the fulfillment of that promise that we celebrate each year on Pentecost. As Christ prepares his disciples for the fact that He is about to ascend to heaven, Jesus gives the promise of the Holy Spirit.
When Christ makes a promise, we know He is good for it. Not many people have credibility. But the one who has absolute credibility is God. And God gives us the Spirit of Truth so that we may be able to discern what is true. That Spirit of God is at work in our world, in our Church.
There are times when the presence of the Holy Spirit seems obscured. It even seems that at times we cannot hear His voice. Are we living in such a time? There is so much confusion in this world. And we know the spirit of confusion is not of God. Even if people try to block the Holy Spirit, God’s Spirit blows where He wills and cannot be blocked forever. The voice of truth—the voice of the Holy Spirit—will always prevail.
As God’s children we need to open up our minds and hearts to God’s Spirit. That is why Holy Mother Church has given us that beautiful prayer, Veni Creator Spiritus, “Come Creator Spirit,” as an invocation to God’s Divine Presence. As the prophet Joel says,
“I will pour out, pour out my spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters shall prophesy. Your young people shall see visions. Your old shall dream dreams. I will pour out my spirit, and they shall prophesy.”
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