Easter 6: Jesus promises the Holy Spirit

Today’s Gospel makes more sense when we see the whole sweep of God’s will for humanity through this season of Eastertide. We are about to celebrate the 4 great feasts that conclude Eastertide. The events of Christ’s life are marked to show us how to walk through our life and through our stumbles and difficulties.  At Easter we reflect on how we respond to adverse situations as Christ does so that we can come to a renewed and healthy new situation. And these next set of feasts show us who Christ is so we can imitate him.  Christ was resurrected– and the ascended into heaven (May 14 Ascension). From the heart of the Trinity Christ sent the Holy Spirit to humans on earth (Pentecost 24 May). Who we are is the image of God, so we understand our human life by reflecting on the Trinity (31 May) and then again we see how the Trinity intertwines with our own individual life in Holy Communion (Thanksgiving for Holy Communion 4 June).  There is a constant movement between heaven and earth, and it is the movement of Christ who binds us into this divine realm.

And that is the essential message of the feasts: that we are meant to be one with God and in union with him. The whole church year is designed to help us experience this mystical and real fact. In Advent we wait for Christ, Christmas is the incarnation of God into human flesh (his desire to be with us). His earthly life is seen in Lent and how he responds to the violence, betrayal and injustice of the world. His love overcomes /transcends the awfulness of some parts of life, and he desires to draw us into that perspective. We are not bound to follow the negative but to be part of the cosmic vision of continually bringing new life to ourselves and others out of whatever mess we are in.

On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. This is who we are meant to be and who we can be: Intertwined with God. Certainly, we are not God, but carried to the Father through the Ascension of Jesus, through his act of self-sacrificing love. So, when we put our wills aside to act speak and act to bring forgiveness and healing to others, we are a part of the divine heart of the Trinity, we are with him. The power of transformation that we see is not from us growing stronger, better, or being more clever, but from our allowing God to work through us.

Jesus is our Advocate who carries our humanity into heaven with him—and so honours that humanity. But he says do not hang on to me. Rather, he will send another advocate to be with us forever. The Holy Spirit enables each one of us to do what Christ himself did. We do not have to farm out our spiritual mission to others– to Christ, to priests, but rather every single human is called to experience the presence of God, in him or herself, through the Holy Spirit.

Who is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit brings us to union in God so that we can work with God to create this new world of harmony and peace. Today’s Gospel shows Christ readying the disciples to be without his physical presence. Of course they will grieve, but they need to become spiritually independent. God wills each of his children to grow into the fullness of life and we only do that when we actively participate in God’s will. It’s easy to outsource our spiritual life to Christ alone- the ”just leave it in God’s hands” is sometimes necessary – but while we leave the outcome in God’s hands we must still be actively participating in his will by trying to love others and God during the situation.

But that is hard when we are hurt, anxious or upset. So, God sends the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to see the world as God sees it, not just through the lens of our own fear, hurt, worry. The Holy Spirit is the love between the Father and the Son. He shows us how to act like Christ to the Father. Christ, faced with betrayal and violence, responds to facilitate the Father’s will for love and new life to emerge. Christ acts out of love for the Father. And this powerful love, which creates a whole new world order, is given to us so that we can do likewise.

We must act, but we must not fall into the trap of thinking that good deeds, fasting, or prayer is the goal of Christian life. The goal is to be one with God in his Spirit. Only a good deed performed in the name of Christ brings the fruit of the Holy Spirit. If our deeds are done so that we can love God more, then the deed will be imbued with a power and a glory that is not achievable by our own efforts.

In seeking God’s will, we enter into his stream of love which is the energy and power which enables a situation to be part of something greater. Whatever the job, relationship, encounter is, it becomes tinged with something that is transcendent, beautiful and true. Our divine-earthly co-operation allows the Holy Spirit to transform what is purely earthly to be a part of its cosmic inheritance. If you love me you will keep my commandments. Consciously trying to change our responses to accord with God for his sake and for the sake that someone, somewhere will be healed, is the surest way to open our hearts to the Spirit.

We are one– and we are only complete when we are in God.

This week: What is challenging me today? What do I have to change in my thoughts, words and deeds to let the Holy Spirit work in me?