Joy and the Holy Spirit

WORD 2day: Saturday, 4th week after Easter

May 6, 2023: Acts 13: 44-52; John 14:7-14

The disciples were filled with joy and holy spirit, says the first reading today. It becomes hard to connect that this statement is actually the ending note of a preceding passage, that speaks about rejection and insult of the apostles by their own fellow Jews. Elsewhere too we would read that they returned happy that they were able to suffer for the sake of the name of Jesus (eg. Acts 5:41). 

This fact would however make sense once we read and understand what Jesus tells us in the Gospel today: whoever believes in me will do the works that I do and will do even greater. The apostles seem to have inherited it from their Master to consider themselves blessed for having to suffer for righteousness sake, to thirst for justice and truth, to seek the Reign of God above all.

It has become a normal experience for persons to deride when one speaks of truth, peace and justice! Be it the young or another generation, be it religious consecrated persons or parents in families, they exude a wry smile when we speak of standing by truth and standing for the right! They seem to say, that sounds good when said, but living it is not feasible. The honesty of these people has to be appreciated certainly, but an inevitable question that remains to be raised: when will we be mature enough to stand up for what we believe, and be courageous to shake the dust off our feet and keep walking towards the Reign!