The Spirit of Truth

HOMILY: Sixth Sunday of Easter

John 14: 15-21

14 May 2023

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA

The lawyers among us would readily know that the best witnesses in any trial are not those who speak about what “might have happened” or can only speculate about the “probable cause”. It is however credible witnesses themselves who know exactly what they are talking about from their first-hand experience. 

In the gospel passage from St. John this Sunday, Jesus is preparing His disciples for His imminent departure. He must leave them soon to return to the Father. This is why He gives His disciples some very important reminders prior to His departure. To further assure them of His continued presence among them, He says that when “The Advocate”, the Spirit of truth comes, He will testify on Jesus’ behalf. In other biblical translations the Holy Spirit is referred to as a ‘Counsellor’, ‘Comforter’, ‘Helper’, ‘Intercessor’, ‘Advocate’, and ‘Strengthener’. The Greek word is parakletos, from which comes the English word ‘Paraclete’. The Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father and the Son will keep on speaking the truths which Jesus first spoke. This same Holy Spirit will also strengthen the Apostles in the difficult task of proclaiming the Good News especially to hostile territories. We see these credible and effective gospel witnesses in the persons of Paul, Barnabas, Silas and Luke among others in the early church who through the power of the Holy Spirit were able to bring many people to embrace the faith and witness to it with courage even in the face of death. St. Peter reminds us: “For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that be the will of God, than for doing evil.” (1 Peter 3:17)

The same Spirit of Truth has been poured into the hearts of all of us faithful when we receive the sacraments of baptism and confirmation. In confirmation, the Bishop extends his hands over those who are to be confirmed, prays that they may receive the Holy Spirit, and, while laying his hand on the head of each person, anoints the forehead with holy chrism in the form of a cross. This is in imitation of what Peter and John did in the First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles wherein they lay hands on the new converts in Samaria to call down the Holy Spirit upon them. Just as the mission is brought to life in the new converts, we, too are expected to keep the truth alive in our hearts by testifying, by being living proof and true witnesses of the faith in the world. 

Recently, Pope Francis announced  together with Pope Tawardros II, that 21 Coptic Orthodox martyrs will be inserted into the Roman Martyrology of the Catholic Church as a sign of communion of the two Christian Churches. We know that the Greek word (martus) for “witness” gives us the English word, “martyr”. Martyrdom is the ultimate form of witnessing. A martyr gives up everything, even one’s life, to give credence to the truth. Not all of us will be called to witness to our faith by offering our lives. Many of us will simply be called to witness to our faith in our daily lives, in our work places, in our respective spheres of influence.

Often times it will not be an easy task. Two years ago, a young prosecutor from Sicily who dealt with the criminal activity of the mafia in the 1980s was beatified as a “martyr of justice and faith”. Blessed Rosario Livatino confronted what Italians later called the “Tangentopoli”, the corrupt system of mafia bribes and kickbacks given for public work contracts. Describing the heroic act of Blessed Rosario Livatino, Pope Francis said: “In his service to the community as an upright judge, he never allowed himself to be corrupted. He strove to judge, not to condemn, but to redeem.” The Pope added, “He always placed his work ‘under the protection of God’; for this he became a witness of the Gospel until his heroic death. May his example be for everyone, especially [for the] magistrates, an incentive to be loyal defenders of the law and liberty.” Can we imagine ourselves standing up for the truth in the face of such an immense criminal institution? In our own ways, we may have to witness to Christ…. when the wrong change is given for purchases, when people at a restaurant maltreat the staff, when our friend is unkind to their househelp… These are simple but sometimes difficult acts of those who must witness to Jesus Christ. 

Brothers and sisters, this truth must be something which we ourselves are convinced about. We believe in this truth. It is our life and the very path we take as Jesus’ followers. We can speak about it and we live it out with compelling conviction. As Christians, we are called upon to be the martyrs of our faith even in our everyday witnessing to the truth. Thus, today’s readings invite us to ask ourselves: Are we true witnesses of Christ? May God give us the courage and strength through the Holy Spirit to be living witnesses, credible, and faithful witnesses of Jesus in our world!