Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter
The Spirit Will Teach You
“The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” (John 14:26)
As Jesus prepares to leave his disciples, he does not leave them like orphans. He promises to send them the Holy Spirit, who will inspire, teach, and guide them as they continue His mission of salvation.
The Holy Spirit comes to teach—not new doctrines apart from Christ, but to lead us more deeply into the mystery of Christ’s life, words, and love. So much of what Jesus said only became clear to the disciples after His Resurrection. Even then, the disciples needed the Spirit to understand and to be sent as Apostles. In the same way, we too need the Spirit to grasp the meaning of the Gospel and to discern His will in life’s many circumstances.
To be a Christian, then, is to be a lifelong student of the Holy Spirit. Yet, we are not students alone; we are part of a body of believers, the Church. The Holy Spirit guides the Church firstly through the Apostles and their successors. This Apostolic succession is key to the teaching authority of the Catholic Church.
Yet, the Holy Spirit has been given not only to those ordained, but also to those who have been baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
For the Journey:
Consider your understanding of and relationship with the Holy Spirit today. What does the New Testament say about the Holy Spirit? Consider a topical Bible entry on the Holy Spirit (Bible Hub link). What does the Catholic Church teach about the Holy Spirit? See the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 683 and following (USCCB link)
Reflection by Br. Luke Kral, OSB
Posted in Article for Easter, Daily Reflections