The Spirit of Truth and Counsellor

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Monday of 6th Week of Easter, Year B, May 10th, 2021
Texts: Acts 16:11-15; Ps. 149: 1-6.9; John 15:26-16:4
Today, in the gospel reading, Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit, the spirit of truth. As the spirit of the truth He will liberate us from ignorance and banish the darkness in our hearts; he will lead us to the truth. The Holy Spirit will impress the truth on our hearts and convince us of it. He also bears witness to the truth of the Goodnews in the hearts of our hearers. In today's first reading it is said, "One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshipper of God. The Lord opened her heart to listen to what was said by Paul." The Holy Spirit, the Lord of life, bore witness in the heart of Lydia to the truth spoken by Paul.
The Holy Spirit is a counsellor; he provides comfort in trouble time. As a counsellor He assures us of the fulfilment of God's promises and makes us firm in hope. The Holy Spirit sustains us in hope and fill us with joy and peace. Jesus affirms this thus: "When the Counsellor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me; and you also are witnesses, because you have been with me from the beginning." Holy Spirit is the principal agent of evangelization, he is the one who impresses the truth of the Goodnews on our hearts and also on the hearts of our hearers. Without Holy Spirit evangelization will be difficult.
We all need Holy spirit because without Him there is nothing we can do. We need the counsel of the Holy Spirit to survive time of trouble. Trouble time will come, for Christ says, "They will put you out of the synagogues; indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God." By His counsel, the Holy Spirit assures us of God's faithfulness to His promise and, so sustains our hope. Our hope fills us with joy and peace which override our suffering and pain. The psalmist says, "This is my comfort in my affliction that thy promise gives me life" (119:50).
We need to know the truth to be able to live it and to proclaim it. The psalmist says, "Make me to know thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.
Lead me in thy truth, and teach me, for thou art the God of my salvation; for thee I wait all the day long" (25:4-5). We need to know the truth for attainment of salvation. The Holy Spirit is the one who leads us to the truth and helps us interiorize it.
We need to ask for the Holy Spirit. God is always willing to give us the Holy Spirit; for Jesus says, "So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Come Holy Spirit and fill our hearts, and  enkindle in us the fire  of your love; send forth your spirit and we shall be recreated. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke