SPIRIT BEFORE US; SPIRIT BESIDE US; SPIRIT IN US!
6th Sunday of Easter A
May 25, 2014
SPIRIT BEFORE US; SPIRIT BESIDE US; SPIRIT IN US!
Indwelling presence are two big words. After so long
studying theology prior to ordination, I still could not fully understand it.
As a priest for so long now, I think I am beginning to understand some of it.
The three readings today talk about the Spirit being given
and being received. The first reading talks about Peter and John going to
Samaria and praying over the Samaritans recently baptized. Peter’s letter
(second reading) refers to Jesus being brought back to life in the Spirit. The
Gospel of John reminds us of the Father giving another Advocate who “will be
with us always” – the “Spirit of Truth.”
Indwelling presence may be big words, but the reality they
stand for is even bigger! And it does not matter anymore if my puny little mind
can still not fully fathom what it means.
When I don’t understand things, I feel I am alone in the
dark. Being alone is bad enough at times, but being in the dark, on top of
being alone, could be worse. I remember a nightmare I had as a little boy. I
was all alone in a dark room. I could hear menacing shouts outside the house. I
was petrified in fear. I could not move and I could not see neither anything
nor anyone. It was pitch dark. And I was alone, with no one beside me, to sit
by me, to reassure me. I don’t know now how long I was in that situation that
brought me so much terror. I don’t remember much of anything anymore, but I do
remember feeling terrified … terrified as much being in the dark, as having no
one beside me.
The disciples must have felt the same when the Lord died.
Their Master and Lord had disappeared all so suddenly, put to death by the
hated and feared authorities. They hid in the Upper Room. And it didn’t help
any that they did not know what they did with the body of their Lord, for they
received reports that it had been taken away.
What a relief it must have been to see Him alive and well!
That was good news. But Christ leads us from good to great. He does not settle
for the simply good. He gives us the best. And the great news that confronts us
today is simply this …
We will never be alone. Ever! He promised to ask the Father
who will “give another Advocate.”
I still don’t fully understand what indwelling presence
means, but I do know what having someone beside me forever means. It simply
means I am no longer in the dark, and I am no longer alone. There is a
“Paraclete” who acts as Advocate, who simply stands by me and sits by me, and
stays with me, and who leads me from good to great. He leads me and you and us
to the Truth, saving Truth, to ultimate Truth.
I love now to think of the Holy Spirit as one who stays with
me and us. I have it from experience
that what one receives makes one full. When one receives something, one becomes
filled … one becomes rich … one becomes complete. One does not remain alone,
unfilled, unfulfilled.
This is the Great gift of the Paraclete. With this, I need
not worry anymore about high faluting theological big words like indwelling
presence. He was poured out generously by the Father to Christ’s Church … to
you and me. Because of this, we stand to become, not only filled, but also
fulfilled; no longer alone, but accompanied in our journey; not only anxious in
the dark, but joyful in His presence!
Glory be to God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit!
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