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6th Sunday Easter A
Acts 8:5-8, 14-17
The reading highlights the significance of faith’s arrival in Samaria, set against centuries of hostility between Samaritans and Jews. Jesus interacted with Samaritans but only entered their territory in Acts during the apostles’ mission before his ascension (1:8). This passage, often called the Samaritan Pentecost, shows God’s power at work. Philip’s preaching followed Saul’s persecution, with healings and demon castings, surprising given past Jewish hostility. The mission’s location is unnamed, but Luke’s focus is on Samaria after Jerusalem. The joy in proclaiming Messiah echoes Luke’s themes, first seen at Jesus’ birth (v8; Lk 2:10). The apostles, authorized to bring faith to Samaria, confirm this through the Spirit (vv15ff). The Spirit’s giving, separate from baptism, underscores its divine initiative and apostles’ authority, sometimes following (vv16f; 19:5f) or preceding baptism (10:47-71). Luke uses this to connect the Spirit’s work with the apostles.
1 Pet 3:15-18
This part of an exhortation to Christians suffering persecution emphasizes that Christ, present through baptism, is their strongest support and confidence (v15a; Gal 2:20). Their hope (v15b) rests in Christ, the promise of future glory (Col 1:27). The innocence of the accused is their ultimate vindication and the as well as the “shame” of their accusers (v16). Their upright conduct keeps their suffering from being tainted by any insinuation of moral deformity (v17). Ironically they suffer only for doing good. In this they are one with Christ who, as innocent, suffered for the guilty (v18).
John 14:15-21
The gospel discusses the indwelling of Father, Son, and Advocate in believers, verified by obeying Christ’s commandments. The Advocate (Gr: parakletos), the Holy Spirit sent by the Father (v16), dwells within believers (v17) and continues Jesus’ teaching (14:26). As the Spirit of truth (v17; 15:26), the Advocate affirms Jesus’ teachings, who is the truth and revelation of God (14:6). The world, immersed in falsehood, does not recognize the Advocate, who convicts the world (16:8). The Dead Sea Scrolls describe the “Spirit of truth” as a moral force opposed to darkness. The return of Jesus (v18) refers to the indwelling, not his physical coming. The passage emphasizes the mutual cohabitation of Father, Son, and Spirit within believers—the life of the triune God. Christ’s presence unites believer and the Godhead, revealing the Father through obedience to Christ’s commandments, especially love (vv15, 21; 1 Jn 2:5). Jesus’ love in believers prompts a response from the Father, forming a circle of knowledge and love.
The first Advocate in Johannine writings is Jesus, representing his disciples before the Father. The Spirit is the second Advocate, sent after Jesus’ departure. It acts as defense attorney, prosecutor against the world, and witness to Jesus’ truth. In Acts, the Spirit leads the early church from Judea to Samaria through the preaching of Philip, while in the first letter of Peter, Christians are advised to heed the Spirit of truth, speak honestly under persecution, so opponents see only God’s work, not deception. May the Holy Spirit be our constant guide in our life. Amen.
Another Advocate
The farewell discourse of Jesus is continued in today’s gospel, (Jn 14:15-21). And here the context of leave-taking and eventual return of Jesus is well pronounced: “I will ask the Father and he will give you another Advocate…I will not leave you orphans, I will come to you”, (vv16, 18).
The word ‘paraklētos’ (παράκλητος) is rare. From its verbal form parakleō ( παράκαλεω ), its precise translation is difficult to determine but understood to have the underlying sense of comfort, encouragement, exhort. If literally rendered it may be taken to mean “one called (‘kletos’) alongside (‘para’)”, to help, offer comfort, etc.
Referring to the Holy Spirit in the gospel of St. John, it is the second advocate, (Jesus being the first: “If anyone does sin, we have Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one”, 1 Jn 2:1). It performs several roles one of which has the sense of a legal or forensic work of a counselor who comes as a prosecutor to convict the world immersed in untruth and perversity, (16:8-11). Thus it is the witness in defense of Jesus and a spokesman for him in the context of his trial by his enemies. A consoler of the disciples, it takes Jesus’ place among them and dwells within them (v17); and as the Spirit of truth, it continues Jesus’ teaching ministry and guides the disciples and thus their helper (15:26) . In other words the Holy Spirit’s mission is one of revealing the truth, convicting of sin, and applying the context of Jesus’ teaching to the lives of his disciples to enable them to maintain a vital relationship with God through his personal indwelling presence.
To call the Spirit our Advocate says a lot more to us than Paraclete. It means we have someone who represents our interests, and our defense, and the one who fights for us. We have not one but two advocates who accompany us on our journey. We only have to observe the commandment of love so that the Father, the Son, and the Spirit may remain in us (vv15, 21; 1 Jn 2:5). Amen.
