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.