The Sixth Sunday of Easter: Love, Peace, and the Holy Spirit

05-25-2025Weekly ReflectionFr. Albert

The Sixth Sunday of Easter invites us to reflect on the profound themes of love and the Holy Spirit, emphasizing that the true love is rooted in God and expressed through our actions. in Today's readings, love emerges as a central theme. As St. John reminds us, '' Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God''.

The love of God is universal, reaching out to everyone. The Holy Bible gives an account of God's love to humanity from the foundation of the world. John in his writing defines God as love. such an affirmation is simple and absolute. Initial knowledge of divine love begins with opening Sacred Scripture and discovering the Creator who finds joy in his creation. To know that God is love requires our participation in his divine love. We are invited today to live the Easter Spirit in calmness and peace and reassurance that we all need so much. The way one loves Jesus is by being in a relationship with both Him and His Father. The relationship serves as a dwelling or home for the disciples.

Jesus also promises His disciples the gift of peace. this is not the same kind of peace spoken in secular culture. it is not the absence of conflict or the presence of world harmony. at its very core, the peace of Jesus is His very love which derives from the wholeness of His life. Today's Gospel reading from St. John made reference to the Advocate, The Holy Spirit, whom the Father would send in His Name. such was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost when the Lord Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit upon His disciples. At that moment, the official ministry of the Holy Spirit had its beginning on earth.

Today in all of three readings we are called to do all things in the spirit. Jesus said, '' The hour is coming, and is nowhere when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, the Father seeks such as these to worship Him, God is Spirit and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth''. The words of this Sunday's Gospel were spoken by Jesus just before his departure to Heaven; the "departure" that He accomplished on the wood of the Cross. Jesus teaches His disciples, He prepares them for the coming separation; above all, He prepares them for a better future.