Scripture Reflections for Sixth Sunday of Easter

“our hope is not based on any of the pleasant things that may happen to us. Instead it is based entirely on God, not on ourselves or on anything in the present world.”

“This is the most intimate role of the Spirit: he enables Jesus to show himself to the believer, just as he appeared personally present to the disciples after his resurrection”

“Jesus has left the meaning of his life and mission in our hands. The Spirit, the advocate whom Jesus promised to be with us always, is alive through us”

“Our Advocate will gently indicate the way to us that we should go, the paths that need to be repaired, the relationships in need of further inspection or care. For this Advocate, the Spirit of Truth, is a gift from God.”

“life ‘in the spirit of the Gospel law’ is firmly based on love for the real person Jesus Christ and the following of his concrete commandments. If we neglect Jesus or his commandments, we are part of the world which cannot receive the ‘Spirit of truth’.”

“There are many more of these encouraging stories and, as I reflect on the lives of these men...it doesn’t seem like much, especially weighed against the magnitude of the suffering surrounding me, but it lets me know that the Holy Spirit is present and working in the world and within each one of us”

“The Church grows, God’s territory grows, when Love spills over by our witness–even today. Maybe especially today.”

“through us and with us and in us, by our words and actions, the invisible and eternal Spirit makes the invisible known again”

“The Power of God does not respect borders. It breaks through every land and in every people.”

“One gets tired of Christians who ignore the commandments of God and yet still claim to “love Jesus.” It is a case of self-deception. Love is shown more through behavior than through words.”

“whether it is an ebb or a flow in the tides of life, the Holy Spirit is there to balance it out and help us to recognize God there in the person next to us, in that summer breeze, in everyone and everything”

“We cannot perceive the Spirit properly, unless we are thereby drawn into the heart of the Trinity. This is how the Spirit conveys something of its peace to the church.”