Reflection on Today’s Readings, Tuesday of 6th Week of Easter, May 24th, 2022
Texts: Acts 16:22-34; Psalm 138: 1ac-3.7c-8; John 16:5 - 11
Many a time we could be so concerned about the self that we only hear what we want to hear and see what we want to see. This attitude could also make us pay attention to the unnecessary while we neglect the most important, it could make us hold on to the illusion while we let go the reality. We could be deluded sometime when we focus so much on the self. Jesus Christ calls us today to step out and see how things are with the other person. He says, “now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts.” The apostles were just concerned about how much they would miss Him, the effect His absence would have on them. They were not concerned about how much Jesus would miss them or what did going mean, let alone asking where He was going.
The apostles lost the meaning of what Jesus Christ was telling them and did not ask the most important question because they were concerned about themselves. This is actually the disease of our world today; everyone is concerned about the self, not the other. The other is only in the picture in so far it is relevant to the self. This has led to the abuse of one another, we play games with one another. I make myself relevant to you to get your attention and you give me your attention because I am relevant to you, not because we love one another. Let love be the basis and driving force of our actions and words. Where was Jesus going? He was going to the Father. What did He mean by going? He meant His passion, resurrection and ascension to the Father. His going to the Father is the Exaltation of Himself and revelation of His divinity.
Jesus Christ shows the right attitude to possess by showing understanding of their mood and telling them what His going meant for them. Jesus was just altruistic, not concerned about His self in His relationship with the apostles. He quickly changed from focusing on Himself to heal the apostles of bad mood. He continues, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counsellor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” He had to go for the Holy Spirit to come.
The Holy Spirit had to come to bear witness to Jesus Christ. The witness of the Holy Spirit is needed to fulfil the law: “This is the third time I am coming to you. ‘Any charge must be sustained by the evidence of two or three witnesses’” (2Cor. 13:1). The Father had borne witness to the Son at Baptism and Transfiguration. The Son had borne witness to Himself by His works. The Holy Spirit is the third person to bear witness to the divinity of the Son. The witnesses of the Father and the Son came from outside, the Holy Spirit witnesses from inside. With the witness of the Holy Spirit no one would have reason not to have faith in Jesus Christ. Hence, He adds, “And when he comes, he will convince the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgement: of sin, because they do not believe in me; of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more; of judgement, because the ruler of this world is judged.” It is the Holy Spirit who convinces us of our self-indulgence and lack of faith in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit also convinces us that the righteousness of Jesus is manifested in His passion, resurrection and ascension to the Father. The righteousness is the truth that Jesus Christ is right to say that He was the Son of God; this is made evident in His going to the Father, which refers to His passion, resurrection, and ascension. The ruler of this world is judged for his lack of faith in Jesus Christ and for condemning Him who is now made right.
We could see example of what is expected of us in Paul and Silas in today’s first reading. Their focus was on Jesus Christ, not on themselves. They were not self-indulgent. In spite of their beatings and weakness they did not lose faith; they sang hymns and praises to God. They were justified for standing firm in faith as they were freed. This tells us that faith in Jesus Christ justifies and saves.
Grant, almighty and merciful God, that we may in truth receive a share in the Resurrection of Christ your Son. Amen (Collect)
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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