6th SUNDAY OF EASTER
Acts 8:5-8, 14-17; 1 Pt 3:15-18; Jn 14:15-21SPIRIT OF LOVE AND TRUTH
Henry Manning, an Anglican minister, well-known for his preaching, had published a book about a collection of lectures and homilies that was widely received and enjoyed by many people.
One day, a friend stopped by for a visit and commented on one of Henry’s latest writing. His friend mentioned that in his highly “valuable” book, Henry did not write anything about the Holy Spirit.
For Henry, this was a big deficiency, against his wishes. He thanked his friend for the sincere comments and for the next two years, Henry began to learn tirelessly about the Holy Spirit. He read and researched all the books that was written on the topic of the Holy Spirit. The fruit of Henry’s sincere quest of learning lead to the discovery of the Light which the Spirit of Truth had brought him. Henry returned to the Catholic Church in the year 1851. Two months later, he was ordained to the priesthood. In the year 1865, Henry Manning became the Archbishop of the Westminster Diocese, England.
At the First Vatican Council (1869-1870), Bishop Henry Manning was outstanding in the role of a staunch defender for papal infallibility. In 1875, he was elected Cardinal. From the time he joined the Catholic Church until his death in 1892, Cardinal Manning always carried with him a special love for and devotion to the Holy Spirit.
“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of Truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows about it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you.” (Jn 14: 16-17)
This is the promise that Jesus lovingly made to the apostles as words of comfort before he entered into his sorrowful passion.
The Holy Spirit is the Advocate. He is the great attorney who defends the faithful when they have to confront all the evil schemes and doings of the world. He brings forth all truths and he gives witness to Jesus Christ. Under the enlightment and assistance of the Holy Spirit, people will find perfect truth in Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit is the Love that binds and unites. He is also the Spirit of Truth, the One who teaches us to love in the truth. Love in truth is perfect love, because it is motivated and guided by God in the Third Person.
Love, stained by deceit, is the kind of love that belongs to the world. As the song goes: “Tôi xin người cứ gian dối cho tôi tưởng người củng yêu tôi, may ra còn chút niềm vui…” - “I beg you, continue your lies, so I will think that you love me too, perhaps there still remains a bit of happiness…” So, for a short moment of joy, people would be willing to love through a lie; for a bit of passing happiness, people would be willing to risk loosing eternal life; this is certainly not the guidance of the Spirit of Christ.
The Holy Spirit whom Jesus promised will lead all people on the path of love and truth. To love someone does not mean we can just give or take away anything. All the wrongful relationships, the unjust searches, and forbidden desires are paths that will lead to sorrow. For when we lack the truth, we also lack freedom and happiness. “The truth will set you free”, Jesus had said so. (Jn8:32).Love must go hand in hand with truth. In order to love in the truth, often times we must be willing to make many sacrifices.
Father Flor McCarthy, a Salesian priest retold this story:
Steve, a 12 years old boy whose feet got shriveled up after a paralyzing fever, had a 10 years old younger brother named Mark. Just like any other kids, Steve and Mark often argued and fought with each other; sometimes Steve even felt jealous of Mark for having two stronger and healthier feet than him.
One night, Steve dreamt that he was lost in a deserted forest. He discovered a cave. Out of his curiosity and sense of adventurous, Steven walked inside. Suddenly, an old man appeared. He called himself a witch. As a reward to Steve for being the first one to discover this cave, the witch man will grant Steve one wish that will satisfy his heart’s desire, but only once.
Without thinking, Steve ask that his feet be strong and healthy like before. The old man flung his cloak up and in a blink of an eye, Steve found himself lying in bed, next to Mark who was very sound asleep.
The old witch pulled up the blanket covering Mark’s feet, when Steve saw that, he asked in puzzlement:
-“What are you doing?”
-“I have to perform a surgery to replace healthy feet for you”.
-“Are you going to replace Mark’s feet with mine?” Steve asked in astonishment.
The old man replied:
-“Well, you think I can just get you a pair of healthy feet from out of thin air? But don’t worry, no one will know what happened. Everyone will see this as something that already happened since birth.”Steve was stunned. He did not expect that the old man would take his brother’s feet to replace his. He imagined himself running with a pair of good feet, while Mark struggled to drag himself with two paralized feet. This can not be! Steve screamed loudly: “I don’t want it this way”. Hearing that, the old man angrily walked away.
Next morning, as he woke up, Steve looked over to his brother, remembering what he saw in his dream last night, let out a happy smile on his face.
What I pick up from Steve’s smile is a love that walks side by side with truth. From his subconsciousness, Steve already did not want to do the wrong thing, even if it benefits him, and even if no one will know about it. By accepting to live his life with a sincere and genuine love, Steve not only did not destroy the life of others, but he also gave rise to peace and profound joy in his heart.
Ẩn Danh