By Father Paul Nord, O.S.B.
Sunday Scripture
First Reading: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17; Responsorial: Psalm 66:1-7, 16, 20; Second Reading: 1 Peter 3:15-18; Gospel: John 14:15-21
Philip is first mentioned in Acts 6:5, where he is one of seven men appointed by the apostles to care for the needs of Hellenistic Jewish widows who belonged to the first Christian community. These seven men are traditionally considered to be the first deacons.
Philip goes to Samaria — non-Jewish territory — to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to the Samaritans there. Many come to believe in Christ through the signs, healings and exorcisms performed by Philip.
“Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent them Peter and John … that they might receive the Holy Spirit.” Through the laying on of hands, the apostles confer the Holy Spirit upon these Samaritan believers. Previously, these believers had only been baptized in Jesus’ name.
Today’s reading omits Acts 8:9-13, which describes a man named Simon who had previously been a practitioner of magic. Amazed by Philip’s signs and healings, Simon received baptism in Christ. Tragically, Simon offered money trying to induce the apostles to confer upon him the apostles’ power to bestow the gift of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands (8:18-24). But Peter and the other apostles refused Simon’s money. The term “simony” receives its name from this Simon, the magician (“Simon Magus”). “Simony” is the buying or selling of sacred things — sacraments, church offices, etc. It is a crime according to the law of the Church.
Psalm 66 is today’s Responsorial. It is a classic “praise psalm.” It calls all people — “all the earth” — to “shout joyfully to God.” God’s deeds are described as “tremendous” in both verses 3 and 5. God’s deeds are cause for our praise.
Verses 1-3 (first stanza) speak to all the earth’s peoples. The second stanza begins speaking directly to God: “Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you” (v. 4). But then it again speaks to “the children of Adam.” This clever phrase is equivalent to “all the earth’s peoples.”
Verses 6 (third stanza) recalls the events of Exodus 14, in which God enabled the Israelites to pass through the Red Sea when he “changed the sea into dry land.” Joshua 3:14-17 is recalled next: “through the river they passed on foot.” God stopped the Jordan River’s flow when the Israelites entered the Promised Land under Joshua. In the final stanza (vv. 16, 20), the psalmist gives testimony about all that God “has done for me.” Together let us praise God’s works!
The First Letter of Peter proclaims Jesus Christ as “Lord in your hearts,” as the first Christians gave testimony. This is similar to Philippians 2:6-11, which says “every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” This Philippians hymn echoes Isaiah 45:23, which proclaims that “every knee will bow, every tongue will swear” fidelity to the Lord God of Israel. Similarly, calling Jesus “Lord” witnesses that Jesus deserves divine worship equal to God the Father.
Thus, First Peter tells us: “Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts.” This is an act of obedience and love that recognizes Christ’s authority (“Lordship”) over my life. We should always be ready to witness to the great gift that we have received in Christ Jesus. We are told: “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.” Christ is our only hope — he promises us life with God if we are faithful.
When we “give an explanation” for our hope, we should do it “with gentleness and reverence” — even “when you are maligned” for “your good conduct in Christ.” This leads to the famous line: “For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that be the will of God, than for doing evil.” This is an essential Christian teaching that we must persevere in doing good, even — especially — when we are suffering. Don’t seek revenge or retribution.
The final paragraph gives Christ’s suffering as a model for imitation by Christ’s disciples in their suffering. We seek to be righteous like Christ, so that he might lead us to God and give us life in the Spirit. In this way, we can share in Christ’s victory over suffering and death, such that God makes us recipients of eternal life through Christ.
In John’s Gospel, chapters 13-17, give John’s account of Jesus’ “last supper.” The meal is described in 13:1-30. This is followed by a long “last discourse” in John 13:31 through John 17. In this discourse, Jesus prepares his disciples for his departure and return to God the Father. Jesus knows that his death is approaching, and so he prepares his disciples to carry forward his mission afterward.
Jesus tells his disciples: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (14:15). Previously, Jesus had told them: “I give you a new commandment: love one another (as I have loved you)” (John 13:34). The disciples’ love for Jesus should cause them to “love one another.” But Jesus’ love for them precedes their love for Jesus. All love originates with God, Father and Son.
Jesus promises to send his disciples “another Advocate.” “Paraclete” is the Greek word translated here as “Advocate.” “Paraclete” can also be translated as “mediator” or “helper.” John 14:26 identifies this Advocate as “the Holy Spirit.”
A closely related Greek word is “paraklesis,” which means “encouragement,” “exhortation,” “comfort” or “consolation.” The Holy Spirit advocates for us in all these ways. The Paraclete encourages and exhorts us to courageously witness to Christ. The Paraclete enables us to conform our daily actions to Christ’s will. The Paraclete also comforts and consoles us when we share in Christ’s sufferings.
The Paraclete is called “the Spirit of truth” in John 14:17, 14:26 and 16:13. This “Spirit of truth” enables us to testify about Christ (14:26-27). This Spirit “will guide you to all truth” (16:13). The Spirit enables us to understand Christ’s words and actions, as preserved by the Church in Scripture and tradition.