GOSPEL, John (16, 5-11)
Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint John
The Work of the Spirit
“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; 11 about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.
The Gospel of the Lord
REFLECTION
Jesus announces his departure. Nobody dares to ask him where he is going, because sadness has invaded everyone’s heart.
“ 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”
His death is necessary for his glorification. The risen Christ will definitively base the faith of his disciples on him.
Christ’s absence, his death and resurrection are necessary for the Holy Spirit to come and convert the apostles into audacious witnesses of the Good News, especially in the time of trial and persecution.
Christ’s presence in his Church through the Spirit “will convict the world with the proof of sin, justice, and condemnation. “Of a sin, because they don’t believe me; of justice, because I am going to the Father and you will not see me and of condemnation, because the prince of this world is condemned”.
The Spirit will expose the sin of the world, which consists of unbelief; and thanks to the resurrection of the Lord, He will defeat the evil one.
Thanks to the gift of the Spirit, we feel the risen Jesus alive and active in our personal lives and in the heart of the community, manifested in our openness to life, love, peace and fraternal forgiveness. We are never alone in our solitude.
The comforting Spirit destroys the sadness and fear in the hearts of all disciples, from the beginning to present day, among whom, fortunately, we also count ourselves.
PRAYER
We give you thanks. Father, for the gift of your Spirit, which is the eternal presence of Jesus among us.
Thank you Lord! We believe in you, and with the joy of the Spirit, torrents of living water spring from our hearts. Amen.