One People of God - the Spirit Effect

WORD 2day: Monday, Fifth week in the Eastertide

April 29, 2024: Acts 14: 5-18; John 14: 21--26

The Word this Sunday introduced us to a specific theme to be reflected upon this entire week - that we are called to be One People of God, one people united to the Lord, just as the branches are united to the one vine. Branches which thus remain with the vine, bear much fruit and the Word shall speak to us this week about these fruits. The first fruit that we are called to reflect upon today, is the Spirit of the Lord, the Advocate that the Father sends. 

Remain in me, invites our Lord and Saviour and thus remaining in the Lord we shall be blessed with, equipped with, empowered with the Spirit, the Divine Advocate who shall teach us all the truth that we need to know. We know things, we learn things, we discover things in life - but what is important and crucial is to understand how to put to use what we know - saying the right word, taking the right decision, and making the right choice at the right time;  that is a special gift of the Spirit. That is what the Risen Lord promises to the people formed out of the experience of Resurrection, the easter people.

We possess knowledge and capacity, we grow in them... but it is only the Spirit who inspires us to give the due place to the One who gives these as a gift to us. How many we do see around, who possess knowledge and capacity, but end up far away from God, totally fallen in their ways! The reason is that they do not allow the Spirit of the Lord to work in them. Today we see Paul and Barnabas in the first reading, who were deified as gods Zeus and Hermes because of the marvels! They could have conveniently basked in that glory and made a career out of it, as many a person we see in today's context do. But what did they do - they knew what to choose! They make people understand to whom all glory has to be given - not to them, but to that One Almighty God! 

The Spirit effect was there in them; they knew who really mattered and what Truth really is! One People of God, are One in the Spirit and they never clamour for the centre, the focus and the limelight. They give praise to God and offer everything to God, making everything refer to One God, as One People.