WEDNESDAY OF THE SIXTH WEEK OF EASTER - Jn 16:12-15 - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

READING OF THE DAY

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles

Acts 17:15, 22—18:1

After Paul's escorts had taken him to Athens,

they came away with instructions for Silas and Timothy

to join him as soon as possible.

Then Paul stood up at the Areopagus and said:

"You Athenians, I see that in every respect

you are very religious.

For as I walked around looking carefully at your shrines,

I even discovered an altar inscribed, 'To an Unknown God.'

What therefore you unknowingly worship, I proclaim to you.

The God who made the world and all that is in it,

the Lord of heaven and earth,

does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands,

nor is he served by human hands because he needs anything.

Rather it is he who gives to everyone life and breath and everything.

He made from one the whole human race

to dwell on the entire surface of the earth,

and he fixed the ordered seasons and the boundaries of their regions,

so that people might seek God,

even perhaps grope for him and find him,

though indeed he is not far from any one of us.

For 'In him we live and move and have our being,'

as even some of your poets have said,

'For we too are his offspring.'

Since therefore we are the offspring of God,

we ought not to think that the divinity is like an image

fashioned from gold, silver, or stone by human art and imagination.

God has overlooked the times of ignorance,

but now he demands that all people everywhere repent

because he has established a day on which he will 'judge the world

with justice' through a man he has appointed,

and he has provided confirmation for all

by raising him from the dead."

When they heard about resurrection of the dead,

some began to scoff, but others said,

"We should like to hear you on this some other time."

And so Paul left them.

But some did join him, and became believers.

Among them were Dionysius,

a member of the Court of the Areopagus,

a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

After this he left Athens and went to Corinth.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to John

Jn 16:12-15

Jesus said to his disciples:

"I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.

But when he comes, the Spirit of truth,

he will guide you to all truth.

He will not speak on his own,

but he will speak what he hears,

and will declare to you the things that are coming.

He will glorify me,

because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.

Everything that the Father has is mine;

for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine

and declare it to you."

“When He comes, the Spirit of truth, He will guide you to all truth.”

(Jn 16:13)

WEDNESDAY OF THE SIXTH WEEK OF EASTER - Jn 16:12-15

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

Jesus told His disciples: “'I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.'”

The Spirit of Truth is the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of God. In the work of creating and saving humans, the Holy Trinity is always present: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The Three Persons of God are always united as one. The period of creation by God the Father was uniquely perfect. The period of salvation of Jesus Christ was also perfect in its own way. The dispensation of the Holy Spirit works in its own way. And God's work of saving people will be completed most perfectly when God comes the second time.

This era is the period when the Holy Spirit operates most clearly. The Holy Spirit Himself will testify and glorify the Second Person of God, the Son of God who came to earth as a human being, died, and was resurrected. The coming of the Holy Spirit will enlighten, guide, and show everyone to know and remember what Jesus Christ taught, that: He only died once, and He continuously lives with people. The Spirit of the Holy Spirit will make everyone remember, and re-present the life of Jesus Christ. He is always by our side, accompanying people in every thought, word, and deed. Thanks to the strength and power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus always lives and works alongside everyone in every prayer, in the Liturgy of the Mass, the Holy Eucharist, in prayers, and in the Word of God read in the Bible.

Before Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, He said: “'For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.'” Jesus' promise has come true: the Holy Spirit has been active since the time of the Apostles, and the Holy Spirit is working in the Church, in the soul, and in the life of each person. He works gradually. He gradually lets people know and understand the words and actions of Jesus towards people.

From ancient times to the present day, the Holy Spirit is always active. At the House of God the Father is a sign of the Holy Spirit at work: when He used Chu Thien Thuong to write the Word of God the Father so that everyone would remember and do exactly what Jesus Christ taught, and so that helps people in every situation to know how to run to God to pray with Him, helping people live closer to God and to love God more. This is where God selects the people He uses to work for Him, continuing the salvation work of God during the age of the Holy Spirit. That is a sign that the power and strength of the Holy Spirit are manifesting in the House of God the Father and in the people God has chosen.

Thanks be to God. Amen