Trong Bài Đọc I, một số phép lạ đã xảy ra trong nhà tù. Trước hết, là việc động đất và tất cả các dây xích sắt của các tù nhân đã đuợc cắt đứt và được mở ra, nhưng không tìm cách trốn thoát. Tuy nhiên, phép lạ lớn nhất đấy chính là người cai ngục, người mà luôn ngược đãi các tù nhân, đã được Thiên Chúa mở mắt và nhận ra rằng Thánh Phaolô và Silas là đặc sứ của Thiên Chúa. Vì vậy, ông đã xin họ cho ông được ơn cứu độ nơi Thiên Chúa. Chính ông là người đã đem họ ra khỏi nhà tù và đem về nhà săn sóc những vết thương của họ và ngồi lắng nghe lời họ giảng dạy về Chúa Giêsu và ơn cứu rỗi của Ngài. Tất cả những người trong gia đình ông chủ ngục đã được rửa tội và nhận đức tin của Chúa Giêsu Kitô. Đây chính là một phép lạ!
Chúng ta không nên nản lòng và bỏ rơi bất cứ ai, không cần biết là họ xấu thế nào, bởi vì Thiên Chúa có sức mạnh hơn tội lỗi của chúng ta. Ngài có thể thay đổi chúng ta hoàn toàn nếu chúng ta tin vào Ngài và mong muốn được biến đổi theo như cách làm việc và sự suy nghĩ của Ngài. Những việc Chúa Thánh Thần làm là hủy bỏ hoàn toàn các việc làm của của ma quỷ và thánh hoá chúng ta. Vì vậy, chúng ta không nên sợ những điều ác vì Thiên Chúa đã chiến thắng ma quỷ và sự dữ trong ngày Chủ Nhật Chúa Phục Sinh.
In the first reading, several miracles occur. First, there is an earthquake and the chains of all the prisoners fall off. But the bigger miracle is that no one tries to escape. Most probably Paul talked to them and convinced them not to run away. However, the biggest miracle is about to happen. The jailer, who must have maltreated many of the prisoners, realizes that Paul and Silas are envoys of God. So he asks for salvation from God through them. He brings them to his house (still another miracle), washes their wounds and then sits down to listen to their preaching. All his family members are converted to the faith and are all baptized. Now that is a miracle!
Have you witnessed miracles in which people completely change the direction of their lives? It would be great to witness such miracles because they truly strengthen our faith in God. The conversion of St. Paul is one such miracle. Miraculous conversions are the work of the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit touches a person, he can change immensely and is filled with zeal to obey God and His commands. We should not give up on anyone no matter how bad they might be because God is more powerful than our sins. He can change us totally if we believe in Him and desire to be converted to His way of doing and thinking. The work of the Holy Spirit is to undo the works of the devil. So we should not be afraid of the evil one because God has already triumphed on Easter Sunday over the prince of this world. The gospel says so.
Jesus said to his disciples: “Now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” John 16:5–7
Jesus continues to speak prophetically to His disciples about the necessity for Him to go to the Father so that He can send the Holy Spirit. What’s interesting in this passage is that Jesus points out to His disciples that “grief” has filled their hearts because of what He has said to them. Clearly, this grief in their hearts is because they do not understand what they will soon experience and do not want their relationship with Jesus to change.
Throughout our lives, our Lord will call us to change. At times, He calls us away from that with which we are familiar and comfortable, and He calls us to something new. This can be frightening and can become the cause of “grief” for us also. To help, let’s consider this passage above in detail.
Recall that there were many times, prior to Jesus’ death, that Jesus slowly started to reveal to His disciples, especially to the Twelve, that He would be going to the Father and that He would no longer be with them in the way He had been. Jesus wanted the Twelve to begin to understand that their relationship with Him, with the Father and with the Holy Spirit would soon take on new meaning in their lives. But the fact that this was something new, a change to what they had grown accustomed, meant that they were more focused upon the grief that accompanies loss than they were focused upon the joy that awaited.
This same experience can often be found in all of our lives. Though dramatic change is not necessarily a regular occurrence throughout life, most everyone will experience change at various moments in life. And when that change occurs in accord with the will of God, it must be embraced with hope and great expectation.
For example, vocational changes, such as getting married, having children, or entering a religious vocation, always bring with it much change—but a change that God can use for much good. Also, the death of a loved one, a move to a new community, a new job or school, the establishment of new relationships and the like can be difficult but also fruitful. Since the Gospel passage above specifically refers to the change that comes from the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, it might be helpful to consider the fact that whenever some new change takes place in our lives, the Holy Spirit is there, waiting to enter into the new situation in ways we could have never imagined. So if you find yourself at times experiencing the grief of some loss, or difficulty with some new endeavor in life, know that the disciples experienced something similar. But in the end, Jesus’ words came true—“it is better for you that I go.” Though they did not want to see Jesus die and then ascend to Heaven out of their sight, this was part of the plan of God for their lives. So also when the changes we encounter in life are part of God’s divine plan, we can be certain that good things await.
Reflect, today, upon anything that our Lord may be asking of you in regard to a change in your life. Are you open, ready and willing to do whatever He asks? Or are you fearful or grieved by the thought of some change. Be open to anything our Lord asks of you and know that the full embrace of His holy will is the only path to true happiness in life.
My dear Jesus, You prepared Your disciples for the new life of grace that they would receive after Your death and Resurrection. Though fearful and uncertain, they embraced the new life You called them to live, and You did marvelous things through them. Please open my heart to the full embrace of my vocation and any changes that You desire for my life. I say “Yes” to You, my Lord, and pray that You work powerfully through me by the Holy Spirit. Jesus, I trust in You.
Opening Prayer: Lord God, guide me with your Holy Spirit. I cannot save myself or sanctify myself through my own efforts. Salvation and holiness are gifts from you. I am saved and sanctified by welcoming your saving grace in faith and in the Sacraments. Work in me, reign in my heart, and send me out like the Apostles to bring others into communion with you.
Encountering the Word of God
1. A Farewell Discourse: Jesus’ discourse at the Last Supper in the Gospel of John is a type of last will and testament and also a farewell discourse. He wants to teach his disciples some of his most important lessons about the Eucharist, the new commandment of love, the need for unity in the Church, etc. In today’s Gospel, he openly recognizes how grief has filled his disciples’ hearts. Jesus points out that they want to ask him about where he is going and what is going to happen to him. They should know the answer to both questions, as Jesus was very deliberate in his words on their final journey to Jerusalem and spoke about his departure (exodus) at least three times on the way. Jesus foretold being condemned to death by the religious authorities and crucified in Jerusalem during the Passover. He also promised to rise on the third day. But his disciples’ hearts were slow to understand all this.
2. Is It Really Better for Jesus to Depart? Jesus proclaims that it is better for him to go. How should we understand this? The goodness of Jesus’ departure can be a reference to his beneficial death on the Cross. Through his death, he conquers death. Through his obedient and innocent suffering, he makes atonement for our sins. Through his death, he takes upon himself the curse of the Old Covenant and establishes the New Covenant through the pouring out of his blood. As well, his death is not the end. He will be raised up and ascend to heaven and send us his Spirit to guide us to our heavenly home. And so, while we could think that it would have been better for him to not to have left us, we should rejoice like disciples on the way back from the Ascension (see Luke 24:52). We should rejoice because Jesus has left us to prepare a place for us in the Father’s House, but he has also mysteriously remained with us in the Eucharist, in the Church, and through the Spirit. He has not left us orphans, but continues to care for us and guide us.
3. The Mission of the Holy Spirit: In the Gospel of John, Jesus speaks about the mission of the Holy Spirit as the Advocate (Paraclete). “At work since creation, having previously ‘spoken through the prophets,’ the Spirit will now be with and in the disciples, to teach them and guide them ‘into all the truth’” (CCC, 243) The Spirit empowers Jesus’ disciples to proclaim the Gospel with boldness, instructs them in the fullness of truth, strengthens them to bear witness to Christ in times of persecution, and defends them against the works of the devil. The Spirit is the one, who “exposes the sin of unbelief for what it is (John 3:20), convinces the world that Christ, though condemned as a criminal, was truly righteous (John 8:46), and makes it known that Satan and every enemy of Christ will face judgment for rejecting him (John 5:26-29; 12:31)” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, 1920).
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I renew my faith in your divine power over evil. The devil wants me to be discouraged, to despair, and to turn my gaze from you. You, however, invite me to turn to the Counselor who convicts the world of sin, judges the devil, and shows me the path to righteousness.
Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, fill my heart with your peace. Increase my faith, knowing that you will never leave me or abandon me. I am your child precious in your sight. Come Holy Spirit, fill my heart and kindle in me the fire of your love!
Grieving Hearts: How hard it is to say goodbye to those we love! The disciples had given up everything to follow Jesus and now he was saying goodbye. They must have been brokenhearted. So many times, emotion blinds us from the goodness and grace Our Lord wishes to pour out upon us. Let us be not afraid when trials come our way, or completely overwhelmed by grief when sorrows hit, but rather be hopeful, for we know where Jesus went, where he is now, and where we would like to be some day.
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