Thursday, April 15, 2021

 

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.