2018 05 08 Reflection 226 ( Bro. Anthony Raj OP on Jn.16: 5-11)

Like us on facebook at   / dominicanministriesgoa   write to us: [email protected] My dear friends in risen Christ, today’s readings enlighten us about the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of truth. The expression “Spirit of truth” in Jn15:26 who is the Paraclete refers the one who leads us into all truth namely Jesus the truth and his words and deeds of truth. Jn3:20 speaks of those whose evil deeds keep them from coming to the light lest those deeds be condemned. In Jn8:46 Jesus uses the same word in challenging his audience to convict him of sin. Jn12:31 announces that the hour of crucifixion is the hour of judgment of the “prince of this world”. With the coming of the paraclete the legal suit which the world brings against is decided in Jesus’s favor. The “sin” of which the world is convicted is the sin of unbelief and refusal to accept the light. This is true of the whole of John’s Gospel; one of such sins is adjudged in Jn3:19 “and this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil”. For this reason God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him” Jn3:17. For this reason in today’s Gospel Jesus says, “it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the counselor will not come to you”Jn16:7. “And when the counselor comes he will convince the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment”. Jn16:8. Jesus was always concerned about the salvific mission he had taken up to save the world from sin and shame. All we need to do is to place our entire self into his custody as 1Pt 5:7 says, “cast all your anxiety on Him, He cares for you”. Prov 16:3 says, “commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established”. Ps55:22 says, “cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken”. Jesus’ strong assurance is, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life” Jn 3:36. Therefore, without hesitation let us place out trust in Him and pray for Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit to set us free and make us heirs of the kingdom of God.