Gospel Reflection for the 6th Sunday of Easter

May 21st. – The Gift of the Holy Spirit.

Very soon we will be celebrating two important feasts in the Easter calendar; The Ascension of Jesus and Pentecost. Our readings today draw our attention to this and begin to point us that direction.

Initially after the resurrection, the friends and followers of Jesus went in to hiding for fear of their lives. They had seen their close friend and Master betrayed, denied, condemned and crucified. They had lost all heart. But eventually they began to find the courage and strength to believe in Jesus and in themselves. Jesus had appeared to them several times to strengthen and encourage them. So they began to go into the streets and villages and proclaim the good news of the resurrection. They began to preach, heal and teach.

They did not do any of this by themselves. They were filled with the Spirit of the risen Jesus. When the crowds ask by what power they heal and preach, Peter replies it is faith in the name of Jesus the sick are made better. It the first reading this Sunday from the Acts of the Apostles many people are healed and cured. The followers of Jesus lay their hands on the people and they receive the Holy Spirit.

When we were baptised, we too had hands laid on us. We were given a name, we were anointed and we were filled with the gift of the exact same Holy Spirit. This simple but profound ritual was repeated when we celebrated our Confirmation. We were sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Just as the first followers of Jesus proclaimed and announced the good news of his resurrection, we in our time and in our way are called to do the same. Today, we are the people who are called to be witnesses and messengers of the resurrection. We do this in our homes, our communities and in our workplaces; wherever and however we can. In his letter, The Joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis says to each of us, ‘because of their baptism, all members of the people of God have become missionary disciples….every Christian is challenged here and now, to be actively engaged in proclaiming the good news’.

As we prepare to shortly celebrate the Feast of Pentecost, may we recall and remember our own baptism and confirmation. May the Lord help us to realise that we are called not only to believe in his resurrection, but we also to live and proclaim this good news through the quality of our daily lives with each other.

• Michael Moore OMI