With Sharee Thomas 

Sunday Gospel: Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year A John 14:15-21

This week’s Gospel passage comes from the Last Supper discourse. Next week we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord and the following week we will celebrate Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Disciples. This week’s reading is the perfect introduction for what is about to take place. In the weeks prior to this, Jesus had told the Disciples that He would be leaving them. He alluded to that fact again in this week’s Gospel, when He says that He will ask the Father to send to the Disciples another advocate (often referred to as the Paraclete) Jesus wants His Disciples to know that the Holy Spirit is to continue the work that He has begun.

Christian people believe that Christ continues to be present in the world even though He is no longer physically present. Whilst the Spirit, (the advocate or Paraclete), will act in the world to bring about the reign of God, it is in the hearts and minds of those who believe where the Spirit will act most strongly. 

This week as a family talk about where you have seen Jesus present recently. If you have found it hard to see this presence take some time over the next few days to stop, slow down and listen to the quiet undertones of the Holy Spirit in your life.