Jn 14:15-16, 23b-26

At the beginning of His Farewell Address, right after the last supper: Jesus promised to send theAdvocate, the Holy Spirit,that the Father will send in His name. At this time, the Apostles did not understand everything that Jesus revealed to them. But the events of the last supper, His Resurrection, and the different Easter moments or appearances of Jesus slowly reveal the many facets of His divine nature; as the awaited Messiah. After appearing to them the last time at His Ascension, they now await the Paraklétos, the Holy Spirit.

Lk 24:4653

Jesus’ bodily ascension to heaven; marks the completion of His
earthly mission. Going back to His Father in heaven leaves His
disciples with the eager anticipation for the coming of the
promisedparaklétos,the Holy Spirit, at Pentecost. This solemnity
marks the special (ten or seven days) period called Ascensiontide,
the time between the Lord’s Ascension and the descent of the Holy
Spirit.

Jn 14:23-29

At the second post-resurrection appearance of Jesus, He blesses the Apostles with the blessing of PEACE. The PEACE he gives is vastly different from the peace the world gives. At the Eucharist, we offer each other a sign of peace just before receiving the Holy Communion. Knowing the frightened state of the Apostle, Jesus confers to them the gift of peace: Peace be with you. In giving them the gift of His peace, He assures them that He knows their fears and the troubled condition of their hearts, so He tells them: Do not be distressed or fearful.

Jn 13:3133a, 3435

Paul and Barnabas are back in Antioch after their successful missionary journey and tell everyone the good news of how the presence of the Lord Jesus is so apparent in the many places they visit. The Lord opens the door to the Gentiles, who are more receptive to the faith.

Jn 10:27 30
We often call the fourth Sunday of Easter the Good Shepherd Sunday. Jesus says in the Gospel: My sheep hears my voice; I know them, and they follow me. At times, we wish that the Lord would give us a complete printout of how to follow Him. But then, a simple reflection of this scripture verse tells us that we are the sheep of the Lord, the follower of Jesus Christ, and He says His sheep hears His voice. Yet we do not hear His voice of instruction for us.
READ MORE