Texts taken from the “On Your Word” Missal May-June 2023

Sixth Sunday of Easter (A)
2nd week, psalter

FIRST READING

From the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 8:5-8, 14-17)
In those days, Philip went down to a city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them. And the crowds, with one accord, paid attention to what Philip said as they heard him and saw the signs he performed. For unclean spirits, crying out with loud voices, came out of many who were possessed, and many paralyzed or lame people were healed. And there was great joy in that city. Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. They went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for it had not yet fallen upon any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. - The word of the Lord.

Commentary on the first reading

The time of the Church is decidedly the time of the Holy Spirit. The first Christian preaching witnessed this exuberant outpouring of gifts and charisms that accompanied the preaching of the apostles and ministers of God. They spoke of new life, love, goodness, mutual assistance, purity of heart, and simplicity, while at the same time driving out demons and healing illnesses. They proposed a different way of life and simultaneously showed it to everyone. They were transformed people. They no longer had prejudices or fears, so much so that the apostles immediately went also to Samaria, which until a few years earlier they had disdainfully avoided, considering the Samaritans idolaters and Israelites who had betrayed the true Law. The Holy Spirit broke down every barrier: now everyone was asking and imploring healing and new life, and the apostles embraced everything and everyone. This is what the saints are like: courageous people who stop at no obstacle, because new life in Christ is truly a manifestation of God's power. Lord, send your saints into the Church and the world today as well!

SECOND READING

From the first letter of Saint Peter the Apostle (1 Peter 3:15-18)

Beloved, adore the Lord, Christ, in your hearts, always ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. Yet do this with gentleness and respect, with a clear conscience, so that, whenever you are spoken against, those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. For if it is the will of God, it is better to suffer for doing good than for doing evil, because Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God; put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit. - The word of the Lord.

Commentary on the second reading

In the first reading, the enthusiasm of the first apostolic preaching dominates; in the second, the cross and suffering appear on the horizon. Yes, we can fully welcome new life in Christ, but this does not prevent others from treating us badly, slandering us, or committing evil acts against us. In this case, what should we do? The Holy Spirit, Saint Peter tells us, is also gentleness and understanding, meekness and endurance. It is better to remain silent and suffer than to respond with violence; better to endure one more injustice than to take revenge and nurture resentment in our hearts. To live this way, we need only think of Jesus and ask for his help: he too was treated unjustly and forgave; he endured insults and remained silent. The true Christian, then, is both exuberant and meek, both bold and a peacemaker. Two things in one: evil is overcome with loving patience, and the proclamation of new life is made with the exuberance of charity. Everything is new in Christ, and this is what makes life beautiful. Yes, because Jesus is the only one who promises us an eternal present.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to John (John 14:15-21)
At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments; and I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees nor knows him. You know him because he remains with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans: I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you. Whoever accepts my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and reveal myself to him.” - The word of the Lord.

Commentary on the Gospel of the day

The central phrase of today's Gospel is probably: “But you will see me, because I live and you will live.” Jesus promises the Holy Spirit. Among the various gifts he gives to the new life of Christians is this: through the Spirit, we will see Jesus. Perhaps here Jesus was referring to the forty days after the Resurrection, during which he appeared to various disciples to confirm them in faith? Yes, that too, but not only that. We too can see Jesus today if we live in the Holy Spirit. This does not mean an external, ocular vision made with the eyes of our physical body, but with the inner eyes of faith. In fact, we also have “inner senses” that, activated by faith, make us see the Lord, hear him, and know him. To enter into this inner vision, living faith is necessary; and even if our eyes perceive nothing, the eyes of the soul contemplate the face of the Risen One, and the heart speaks with him, because Jesus is alive and we are alive with him. Christianity consists in this inner vision, to which the Lord continually invites us. And you, have you ever “seen” the Lord? If it seems that you have not, open the eyes of faith!