We will come to him and make our home with him

The Sixth Sunday of Easter – Year C 

Collect 

 
Grant, almighty God, that we may celebrate with heartfelt devotion these days of joy, which we keep in honour of the risen Lord, and that what we relive in remembrance we may always hold to in what we do. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Acts 15:1-2, 22-29

It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities.

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles

Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers,
   “Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice,
   you cannot be saved.”
Because there arose no little dissension and debate
   by Paul and Barnabas with them,
   it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others
   should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders
   about this question.

The apostles and elders, in agreement with the whole church,
   decided to choose representatives
   and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.
The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas,
   and Silas, leaders among the brothers.

This is the letter delivered by them:
“The apostles and the elders, your brothers,
   to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia
   of Gentile origin: greetings.
Since we have heard that some of our number
   who went out without any mandate from us
   have upset you with their teachings
   and disturbed your peace of mind,
   we have with one accord decided to choose representatives
   and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
   who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So we are sending Judas and Silas
   who will also convey this same message by word of mouth:
   ‘It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us
   not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities,
   namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols,
   from blood, from meats of strangled animals,
   and from unlawful marriage.
If you keep free of these,
   you will be doing what is right. Farewell.’”

The word of the Lord.

Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

R. :

℟. (4) O God, let all the nations praise you!
  or:
℟. Alleluia.

May God have pity on us and bless us;
   may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
   among all nations, your salvation.

℟. O God, let all the nations praise you!
  or:
℟. Alleluia.

May the nations be glad and exult
   because you rule the peoples in equity;
   the nations on the earth you guide.

℟. O God, let all the nations praise you!
  or:
℟. Alleluia.

May the peoples praise you, O God;
   may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
   and may all the ends of the earth fear him!

℟. O God, let all the nations praise you!
  or:
℟. Alleluia.

Rev 21:10-14, 22-23

The angel showed me the holy city coming down out of heaven.

A reading from the Book of Revelation

The angel took me in spirit to a great, high mountain
   and showed me the holy city Jerusalem
   coming down out of heaven from God.
It gleamed with the splendor of God.
Its radiance was like that of a precious stone,
   like jasper, clear as crystal.
It had a massive, high wall,
   with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed
   and on which names were inscribed,
   the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites.
There were three gates facing east,
   three north, three south, and three west.
The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation,
   on which were inscribed the twelve names
   of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

I saw no temple in the city
   for its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb.
The city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it,
   for the glory of God gave it light,
   and its lamp was the Lamb.

The word of the Lord.

Acclamation before the Gospel
Jn 14:23

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord,
and my Father will love him and we will come to him.

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jn 14:23-29

The Holy Spirit wil teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.

✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Whoever loves me will keep my word,
   and my Father will love him,
   and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words;
   yet the word you hear is not mine
   but that of the Father who sent me.

“I have told you this while I am with you.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit,
   whom the Father will send in my name,
   will teach you everything
   and remind you of all that I told you.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give it to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
You heard me tell you,
   ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’
If you loved me,
   you would rejoice that I am going to the Father;
   for the Father is greater than I.
And now I have told you this before it happens,
   so that when it happens you may believe.”

At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest, acclaims:

The Gospel of the Lord.

All reply:

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflection

On this Sixth Sunday of Easter, we listen to a passage that sheds light on what the life of a disciple of Jesus should look like. We also hear the news about the gift promised by Jesus himself—the gift of the Holy Spirit, whose presence ensures we are never alone. It is a message of the joy of the resurrection and of courage in union with the Holy Trinity.

In this passage taken from the farewell discourse, Jesus speaks about the disciple’s love for Him as a condition for participating in the union with the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. In the light of the resurrection, He again emphasises that love is what matters. In fact, the Gospel is a story of love: a story where, if we receive God’s Word, we will be loved by God. Moreover, Jesus says: “We (the Holy Trinity), will come to him and make our home with him,” and thus creating an environment where a relationship between God and the beloved is established.  |

We should make an examination of conscience to better understand how often we lose our way to Jesus. The disciple’s relationship with Jesus, and Jesus’ relationship with the Father, are both united in the Father. 

Jesus prepares His disciples beforehand to continue believing in Him and not feel alone when He returns to the Father, because He will remain with those who follow Him throughout the centuries. This He will do through the Holy Spirit. Jesus made a solemn promise to His Apostles and to us, that He will send the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit: “But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” Were it not for the Holy Spirit, sent to us by Jesus, we would be worthless. Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit in our Baptism and when we were Confirmed and continues to send Him upon us through actual grace—assistance that He provides in all the circumstances of our lives. 

With this comes the promise of the Lord’s peace. It is not the peace that comes from the absence of war, nor the peace the world offers. Do not be troubled! Do not be afraid! This is His Word that gives us courage. 

Prayer

Lord, give us the grace that if we truly love You to welcome Your loving invitation—the same invitation that you made to Your disciples who lived, ate and drank with you. Your invitation to keep and observe Your Word. 

 

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