“Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason, I told you that He will take from what is mine and declare it to you.” –John 16:15
Today’s reading from John’s gospel is so reminiscent of the thirteenth century Franciscan theologian, Duns Scotus. He stated that God looked out over the entire world and asked: “How can I show all these people how deeply I love them? I know. I will become one of them!” So, we have the birth and life of Jesus.
At this point in John’s gospel, Jesus is now preparing for his ascension to his Father. We get the feeling that Jesus is trying to share as much of the love and wisdom of God as he can! What is given to us is given to us through the Spirit. It is this Spirit who teaches us all that Jesus knows. Each one of us is part of the Body of the church and the community of people.
In our first reading today, Paul is explaining the experience of God through the Greek culture. We can hear him explore the fact that God is not unknown. God does exist! The Greeks identify the mystery of human greatness with surface beauty. Both Jesus and Paul recognize that the mystery of human life has deep roots beyond our control.
John tells us that God is the Word. When we pray, when we converse with God, we are not relating to a painting or a statue. We are actually experiencing God as much as we can through our human nature.
We may strive for perfection; but of ourselves we will never attain it. We need the help of the sacraments. In both Baptism and Confirmation, we received the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit. After the Resurrection Jesus’ followers remembered his words in a different light, from a different perspective. In our prayerful reflection on the Word of God, we too can understand and practice all that the gospel instructs us.
I have been quite upset by the daily news of irrational shootings, muggings, robberies. So, I question. Are we better than those who engage in such deadly actions? No, but we have been blessed with listening to Jesus’ words, with receiving sacraments that grace us with the ability to choose what is good for people…..above all, as part of the human race, we reach out to care for one another, as Jesus teaches throughout the gospel.
In today’s gospel account, Jesus tells us that the Spirit of truth will come to help us understand what the experience of God is like in our daily living: patience and understanding in families, prudence in interacting with co-workers, openness to all who are different from us. In other words, we listen to and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us.