Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year C)

 Sixth Sunday of Easter May 25, 2025

Acts 15:1-2, 22-29; Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23; John 14:23-29

(Image courtesy: Google)

There is an old story about a young boy named Samuel who lived in a village surrounded by hills and forests. One day, his father, a wise carpenter, told him to hike to the top of the tallest hill.

“Why?” Samuel asked.

“To learn to listen,” his father replied.

So Samuel climbed. At the top, he sat quietly, listening. He heard birds, the rustling of leaves, even the hum of bees. But he grew restless. “What am I supposed to hear?” he shouted. There was no answer.

Disappointed, he returned home.

His father looked at him and smiled. “Try again. But this time, go without expecting a loud voice.”

The next day, Samuel climbed again. This time, he sat in silence. Minutes passed, then hours. Then, as the sun began to set, he heard it—a gentle, soothing whisper in the breeze that touched his heart: “You are never alone.”

It wasn’t a voice from outside, but one within him. A peace flooded his soul. He ran down the hill with joy.

Years later, when Samuel became a teacher and a father, he often told others: “Sometimes the Spirit speaks not in thunder, but in a whisper. But you must be quiet to hear.”

This simple story reflects the truth Jesus taught. The Holy Spirit often speaks not in dramatic ways, but in gentle whispers—in our hearts, through Scripture, through people, or even in silence. We must create the stillness to listen.

Today, on the Sixth Sunday of Easter, we are approaching the great feast of Pentecost. Our Gospel reading is taken from John 14, where Jesus, in the intimacy of the Last Supper, speaks to His disciples in a tender and reassuring way. He promises them something extraordinary—the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, the Comforter, the one who will be with them forever.

This passage is filled with love, assurance, and hope. Jesus knows His hour has come. He is about to leave them through His passion and death. He is preparing them not just for His physical absence but for a deeper spiritual presence through the Holy Spirit. He is saying, “I am leaving, but you will not be alone.”

We, too, like the disciples, often face moments of loss, confusion, and fear. The promise of the Holy Spirit is not just for the apostles then, but for each one of us today. The Spirit is God's presence in us—guiding, teaching, comforting, and strengthening us in our journey of faith.

In the first reading we come to know the Council of Jerusalem. That first council of the church in Jerusalem had enormous implications for the history of the world, far beyond what the participants could have imagined. They were not surrounded by the pomp and splendour of the Second Vatican Council, nor did they have the attention of the world’s media analysing every move. Rather that small group had to proceed believing that, despite their differences and the difficulties involved in reconciling them, the Holy Spirit would guide them on the right path. So, it is with the church at the beginning of the third millennium. Doubtless there are difficult days ahead and hard decisions to be made, but as people of faith we step forward trusting that God will bring about the changes in us which will make us more perfectly the People of God.

The Spirit as Teacher and Reminder

Jesus tells His disciples that the Holy Spirit will teach them everything and remind them of all that He said. This is crucial. Even though the disciples had been with Jesus for years, they still didn’t fully understand His mission. The Holy Spirit would bring clarity, wisdom, and remembrance.

Have you ever had a moment when a Scripture verse suddenly became clear to you? Or when you were uncertain and a deep peace settled in your heart? That is the work of the Holy Spirit.

We don’t have to figure life out alone. The Spirit is our divine teacher. When we are lost, the Spirit guides. When we forget, the Spirit reminds. When we are afraid, the Spirit gives courage.

The Peace That Surpasses Understanding

Jesus then gives another promise: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” But He qualifies it—“not as the world gives do I give to you.”

What is the difference between worldly peace and the peace of Christ?

Worldly peace is the absence of conflict, often temporary and fragile. It depends on external circumstances. But the peace of Christ is interior—it is a state of the heart anchored in trust, a peace that remains even in trials and suffering. It is the peace of someone who knows that God is in control, that nothing can separate us from His love.

This peace comes from the Spirit. It is fruit of a life rooted in God's presence.

Living in the Promise

So how do we live in this promise of the Holy Spirit?

Welcome the Spirit through Prayer

Let us begin each day asking, “Come, Holy Spirit.” Let us invite the Spirit to guide our decisions, our words, and our actions.

Listen and Learn

Let us spend time with Scripture. The Spirit is always ready to teach, but we must give time and space for learning.

Trust in the Peace of Christ

In moments of anxiety or fear, let us recall this promise: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” Let us surrender the burden and let God’s peace rule in your heart.

Be a Vessel of the Spirit for Others

The Spirit does not come to us merely for our benefit. As the early Church was empowered at Pentecost, we too are called to be agents of hope, love, and truth in a hurting world.

As we journey through the Easter season, let us not miss the gift Jesus left us—the Holy Spirit. The Advocate is not a distant force but a living presence. He teaches, reminds, comforts, and brings peace.

May we, like Samuel on the hill, take time to listen—to the whisper of the Spirit. And may we, in our words and actions, reflect that Spirit to the world.

So today, let us pray together:

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Happy Sunday