Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter

(Acts 17:15.22-18:1; John 16:15-21)

A good teacher broadens and deepens knowledge. Such was the sage, Socrates.  He drew insights out of listeners by applying what they knew to different situations.  Jesus promises such a teacher in the Holy Spirit in today’s gospel.

Jesus tells his disciples that the Holy Spirit will come to guide them to the truth.  But they already have the truth in Jesus himself.  What Jesus apparently means is that the Spirit will confirm the truth ‘that Jesus has given his disciples. Then the Spirit will clarify and deepen the truth in the deliberations of the Church. 

We can see this process in the development of understanding of who Jesus is.  The disciples know that Jesus is the Messiah who has come to reveal God’s will to the world.  The Spirit will eventually show that he is God incarnate whose death is the price of human redemption and whose resurrection is the promise of eternal life. Our response to this development can only be “thanks” along with the determination to live in accord with God’s will.