Reflection for May 10 Sixth Sunday of Easter: John 14:15-21

Gospel: John 14:15-21

Jesus said to his disciples: "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 always, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows him.

But you know him, because he remains with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live.

On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him."

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Reflection:

Do we, once in a while, feel that somebody is watching over us, especially when we are alone? Do we oftentimes sense a gentle voice within us, urging us to do what is right whenever we are tempted to do what is wrong? In the quiet moments of our lives, when our hearts are troubled or uncertain, do we recognize that God is speaking to us through the Advocate or Holy Spirit?

In this Gospel episode, Jesus is soon to be arrested, yet He lovingly assures them that they will not be left alone. He promises them the presence of the Advocate—the Holy Spirit—who will remain with them always. This same Holy Spirit continues to dwell within us today, watching over us, guiding us, comforting us, and leading us toward the path of holiness and truth.

This is the very same Holy Spirit whom we received during our Baptism and whose presence was strengthened within us through the Sacrament of Confirmation. God did not simply create us and leave us on our own. He remains close to us through His Spirit, continually calling us back whenever we wander away from Him.

But if the Holy Spirit is always with us, why do we still fall into sin? We continue to sin because God, in His great love for us, has given us free will. We are free to choose between good and evil, between obedience and disobedience, between love and selfishness.

Sadly, many of us still choose what is wrong even when the Holy Spirit is already whispering within our hearts to choose what is right. Because of this, we lose our inner peace and become restless, burdened, and spiritually weak.

The key to continually experiencing the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is simple: we must truly love the Lord and faithfully follow His commandments. Yet although this instruction is simple, many of us find it difficult to live out because we are constantly surrounded by temptations, distractions, and worldly desires that pull us away from God.

When we allow sin to rule our hearts, we slowly become deaf to the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit. Instead of peace, we experience confusion. Instead of joy, we carry anxiety and unrest. Instead of living simple and grace-filled lives, we find ourselves trapped in lives that are sinful, complicated, and empty.

Yet despite the many trials, uncertainties, and economic difficulties we face today, if we still possess peace deep within our hearts, this is a sign that the abiding, guiding, and calming presence of the Advocate remains alive within us. Such peace is not given by the world. It comes from the Lord alone, and it remains with those who sincerely love Him and strive to obey His will.

As we continue our journey in life, may we open our hearts more fully to the gentle prompting of the Holy Spirit. May we learn to listen more carefully to His voice, trust more deeply in His guidance, and courageously turn away from whatever separates us from God.

Are we still listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit within our hearts, or have the noise of sin, pride, and worldly desires drowned out His gentle call to holiness and peace?— Marino J. Dasmarinas