Sixth Sunday of Easter

Today's Mass Readings

Theatre is one of the best performing arts. So much work goes into preparing a play and performing it that it is something that builds good character and creativity. It is so great to get a show “on the road” and ready to perform. In theatre, every role is vital to the performance. The actors and performers on stage lead it. The audience receives it. Then, last but not least, there are all the people behind the scenes. Without these most important people, you cannot have a show. That is why they receive applause at the end of a show as well as the actors and director. They are the foundation. Without them we have nothing.

Now the time has come. We are preparing for the next stage of the show. Jesus taught His Disciples well, and He is now preparing them for His departure. Jesus promises to send them the Holy Spirit. Now the curtain call is about ready. This weekend is graduation weekend for our seminarians. When someone comes to join the seminary, they take on a new person. I don’t mean this in a vague or esoteric way. While they are still the same person in a literal sense, they take on the new person of Christ. Young men who come to our seminary to serve the Church take on a new responsibility. They are not starting a career or joining a firm. They come, they study, they lead, and they serve. And then, when they have done their course of formation, they graduate to serve the Church. Our graduates, called Sons of Thunder, are now ready to go wherever God calls them. They depart ready to bring Christ to others, whether that is in the priesthood or in marriage or consecrated life.

In Acts, Samaria accepts the Gospel. They heard the message of the Gospel spoken through Philip and they “got with the program.” They rejoiced “in that city.” Many were baptized and countless people were cured and healed. Peter and John then came down so that they would meet the Advocate, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit’s coming onto the scene completes the play for them. They now had met God in His entirety and could live out the faith.

Brothers and sisters, The Holy Spirit always has been the one working behind the scenes. Here we see the one who has worked such wonders. He gives us Christ in our souls. The curtain call is up and we meet the one who guides us all on the way. Jesus tells us:

Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord,
and my Father will love him and we will come to him.

We cannot have this love without the Holy Spirit. Turn to the Holy Spirit as a friend and counselor, so that, in all things in life, we can remain in Christ’s love as true Disciples. Amen.

Reflection by Br. Matthew Marie, OSB