Acts 8 : 5 – 8, 14 – 17 / Ps. 65 : 1 – 7, 16, 20 / 1Pt. 3 : 15 – 18 / Jn. 14 : 15 – 21

In the first reading, Peter and John are sent from Jerusalem to Samaria to be ministers of the coming of the Spirit to the new converts in that town. These men had already been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, and the imposition of hands completed the initiation of these converts.

The Second Reading from the First Letter of Peter 3:15-18 indicates that baptism initiates a person to imitate the death and resurrection of Jesus and that the destiny of all believers is to live according to the realm of the Spirit.

The Gospel from St. John 14:15-21 is the discourse at the Last Supper, which was His last will and testament. Jesus knew that he was to be crucified the following day. The disciples had been with Jesus Christ for some time and they felt safe and secure in his hands. Then out of now where, Jesus begins to talk about going leaving them. The disciples became confused and started thinking about Jesus’ absence.

 He reassures them that his death the following day was not the end of his relationship with them. He will not leave them orphans but will ask the Father to give them and us (the Church today) another Advocate, the Holy Spirit.

The Lord had promised His Church, through the Apostles, that the Holy Spirit would be with it until the end of time. The Spirit of truth will be directing it and effectively aiding it to preserve the faith, the doctrine, and the morals which Christ taught His Apostles.

Brethren, regardless of the circumstance of our lives, Jesus promises us that we are not alone and will never be orphaned by God.

Jesus is saying that his love for his disciples will not be broken by death. The disciples at this last supper represent us all. We too are being reassured that the Lord’s love for us is faithful, expressing what is best in the love of a mother and father for their children.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Lord’s faithful love. What the Lord asks in return of us is that we love him by keeping his commandments, especially his one, new, commandment, to love one another as he has loved us.

This is the way of life towards which the Holy Spirit we have been given implores us. We thank God for all the ways that people are loving one another as the Lord has loved us in these difficult times.

Let’s note this, though the world never stops creating orphans in one way or another, nevertheless, as Jesus lives no believer is or will be an orphan. Therefore, becoming an orphan is or will be by a choice.

Mother’s Day Message: Being a woman by itself is a gift of God and it should be appreciated. The origin of a child is woman, and the essence of a woman is in sharing love as a mother. On this day that, we celebrate all mothers for your tireless efforts in bringing up your children, I join the choirs of heaven to wish you a Happy Blessed Mother’s Day. Everyday should be a celebration of you… Happy Mother’s Day!

Rosary Prayer: Glorious Mysteries