THE ABIDING PRESENCE OF GOD THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT
The abiding presence of God through the Holy Spirit is the most recurring theme of the scriptural readings, as we draw closer to the end of the Eastertide that culminates with the feasts of Ascension and Pentecost. Indeed, the readings this Sunday are all about the abiding love of God through his Spirit of love.
We must love God and one another as Jesus loves us to remain in God. He promised us, the Holy Spirit: the spirit of love that will help us to express and understand what love means especially from the perspective of God. God of love
GOD`S ABIDING PRESENCE IS OUR GUARANTEE.
An abiding presence or assuring presence of God could be related in the short story: Once upon a time, a plane was travelling from Nigeria to London, and somewhere across the Sahara Desert. Then suddenly, there was a heavy storm which made the passengers panic and fear for their lives.
Strange enough amidst the cries, shouting, fear and commotions of adults and children on the plane. There was a little three years old boy who was at peace and at ease with his earpiece playing video games.
After the storm has passed, an elder woman sitting beside the little one who noticed his serenity during the commotions asked him if he was not afraid. No. The little boy answered with a sense of confidence. Why? Responded to the woman and he replied because my dad is the pilot.
1. The little boy knew his father was in charge of the plane.
2. He was also conscious and confident of the presence of his father with him during the turbulent flight.
We need to know of the abiding presence of God and control over our lives and be also conscious of this Presence in every event of our lives like this little boy.
OUR THEME
The readings of the Sunday of Easter remind us of the Abiding and Indwelling Presence of God and especially the Holy Spirit. They also invite and challenge us to be conscious of this Abiding and Ever Indwelling Presence.
The Presence of the Holy Spirit is in all the Church and all of us need to soar through hard times, confusions and manipulations in the name of God as we see it in every corner of our lives and faith in the name of religion and faith practice.
This abiding presence of God through the Holy Spirit makes Christianity a light-burden faith. It is not about rites and rituals or rules and regulations. It is about facilitating easy access to God, for whoever wants to be closer to Him.
FIRST READING: ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 15:1-2, 22-29
The Holy Spirit help the early Christian faith and Church overcome religious manipulations and ‘twistings` in the name of God. As well as evicting possible breakups and divisions in the nascent Christian group, thereby preserving the Christian Unity and fostering Christian tradition, teaching and faith.
It was the Abiding Presence of the Holy Spirit that helped the apostles to solve a major doctrinal problem about the Gentiles becoming Christians, which shook the very foundation of the early Church.
Without the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit, we cannot realize anything or talk less to love and remain in God. The assurance of the Holy Spirit is our courage and strength to be authentic witnesses to God.
In the council decision, St. Peter and the apostles demonstrated to us that Christian life; its salvation, rationale, hope, virtues and living in good conduct and even difficulties and pains are attainable in Christ through the Holy Spirit.
PSALM 66 OR 67:
The Responsorial Psalm prays that all the nations on the earth, not just Israel, may recognize their God and praise Him. It is a prayer, O God, let all the nations praise you, that recognize the work of God through the presence of his abiding spirit in our midst.
SECOND READING: REVELATION 21:10-14, 22-23
The second reading from the Book of Revelation affirms the Glorious and Transforming Presence of God and the Lamb who is the Temple (The Abiding) and luminous light of the new Christian life and kingdom.
The Holy Spirit of Eternal Glory and Light takes us to the most significant height of faith, of insight into heavenly and divine beauties, and of God’s dwelling to behold His Indwelling Presence among us and in us.
THE CITY OF GOD: THE CHRUCH AND THE PRESENCE OF GOD
In Revelation.21:22 John lays down a unique feature of the city of God; in it, there is no temple. When we remember how precious the Temple was to the Jews, this is amazing. But we have already noted that the city is built in the shape of a perfect cube, indicating that it is the Holy of Holies.
The city needs no temple because the presence of God is continually there. Here is symbolism which is plain for all to see. Buildings do not make a Church nor liturgy, form of government, or method of ordination to the ministry. The one thing which makes a Church is the presence of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Without these there can be no such thing as a Church; any gathering of people is a real Church.
THE GOSPEL: JOHN 14:23-29
In the Gospel of John 14:23-29, Jesus assures us of His Father and Him building an Abiding Presence with us if we love Him by keeping his commandments. That is, the Holy Spirit will be our companion, leading, guiding, teaching and reminding us of truth and that is his Presence is a guarantee of lasting peace.
In other words, Jesus promises us the Abiding Presence of the Holy Spirit among us as the Eternal Teacher of our faith and the Everlasting Memory of the Christian faith and history.
Jesus was explicit and forwarding in his farewell speech to his disciples. He revealed to them the eternal condition of receiving God´s promises, especially the Holy Spirit.
1. Faithfulness to God´s commandment;
2. The Divine Assistance of Advocate.
3. The Eternal Presence of the Trinity.
4. The surety of an unconditional, unfailing and uniting love of the God the Father.
To love genuinely and to keep rules and regulations faithfully are the two most difficult things in the world. Yet, this is the challenge and demand of the readings of this Sunday as we prepare for and anticipate the coming of the Holy Spirit.
LOVE IS EVERYTHING
In this passage, John is playing on certain ideas which are never far from his mind.
1. First and foremost, there is love. For John love is the basis of everything. God loves Jesus; Jesus loves God; God loves men; Jesus loves men; men love God through Jesus; men love each other. The principle of love is that heaven and earth, man and God, man and man are all bound together by the bond of love.
2. Once again John stresses the necessity of obedience, the only proof of love. It was to those who loved him that Jesus appeared when he rose from the dead, not to the scribes and the Pharisees and the hostile Jews.
3. This obedient, trusting love leads to two things. First, it leads to ultimate safety. On the day of Christ’s triumph, those who have been his obedient lovers will be safe in a crashing world. Second, it leads to a fuller and fuller revelation. The revelation of God is a costly thing. There is always a moral basis for it; it is to the man who keeps his commandments that Christ reveals himself. No evil man can ever receive the revelation of God. He can be used by God, but he can have no fellowship with him.
The most urgent truth of our state of Christian living is that we need the Holy Spirit, Lord of Divine Fire to melt frozen hearts and warm the chilling souls; of lukewarmness, of confusion, of watering down of faith and teaching standard.
We urgently and truly need the abiding spirit of God to overturn our insatiable thirst for materialism to concrete and deep Christian spirituality.
Equally, we need the Holy Spirit of truth to enlighten and expose the camouflaging “abracadabra” or “priestcraft”, or superficial religiosity in the name of God or Christian spirituality.
Finally, let our prayer that the abiding or indwelling of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit among us will help us through their preaching, healing, transforming, empowering and guiding power look on to faith in the Truth, while maintaining charity in the bond of Unity.
OUR PRAYER
Come Holy Spirit, LOVELY ABIDING PRESENCE OF GOD AND fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and we shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His indwelling consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.
