Today’s Scripture Readings

Gospel Reading

NRSV

‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you for ever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. ‘I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.’

Have you ever had the experience of getting a piece of furniture home in a flat-pack from the shop and then beginning the arduous task of following the convoluted instructions to assemble the item? This can be a daunting task. You may ask yourself: ‘Why am I doing this?’

As Jesus tries to prepare his followers for life without his physical presence, his instructions to them are much simpler.
Listen to me!
Follow my example!
Trust me and my Father!
Be open to receive the gift of the Spirit who will come accompany you on your life journey!

The same instructions are relevant for us today. Our faith has brought us into a relationship with our loving God. The Spirit of God is within us. Our baptism guarantees this reality. The question for us today is ‘Do we have the courage to let the Spirit influence the way we live our lives?’

Relationship is the foundational concept for those who profess to be followers of Jesus. How do I continue to nourish my relationships with my loving God, with others, with creation, with myself?

Key questions for us this day are:
How prepared am I to lean into the Spirit when life is challenging or difficult or uncertain?
Do I put my trust in the same guarantee given by Jesus to his first disciples?