Thursday
of the Second Week of Easter
(Acts 5:27-33; John 3:31-36)
Who is
speaking in the today’s gospel? The context
indicates John the Baptist who is quoted in the previous passage. But the words themselves sound like Jesus’ speaking
of himself in the third person in his dialogue with Nicodemus. Actually, the testimony is most like the
apostles’ preaching about Jesus. The first reading citing Peter, provides a
similar testimony.
The reading,
from the Acts of the Apostles, testifies to the presence of the Holy Spirit. Given
to the apostles, the Spirit strengthens their preaching. It inspires them to enkindle the faith of
many people. In the gospel the Spirit likewise enables the speaker to proclaim the
Lordship of Jesus. Those who accept the message
receive the Spirit’s reward of eternal life.
The Holy
Spirit moves the action along in the Acts of the Apostles. Jesus testifies to its role of consoling and strengthening
the apostles in the Gospel of John. It
comes with its manifold gifts to us as well.
We should ask the Father to send us a double portion so that we might
meet the challenges we face.
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