Reflections on The Scriputre Feast of the Holy Trinity Gospel C

By 11:25 AM

Jesus said to his disciples: "I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.

        In this passage Jesus continues the farewell speech that extends from Jn 13:31-17:26.

        Even after being with Jesus for three years, the apostles did not fully comprehend     
        what Jesus has shared with them. It will be one of the roles of the Holy Spirit to     
        further teach them and to bring all things into greater understanding over time.

       As they trusted in Jesus, now they were to trust the lead of the Holy Spirit, as he
       leads them into a deeper comprehension of the truth.

He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming.
         Perhaps the most beautiful part of this passage is the union of the three: Father,
       Son, and Holy Spirit. They speak as one. They listen to each other. They represent    
       one another.
       Jesus did not speak his own word, but said, "everything that I heard from my Father, I
       have made known to you" (15:15). In his High Priestly Prayer, Jesus will say, "the   
       words which you have given me I have given to them" (the disciples) (17:8). In like   
       manner, the Spirit will not speak his own word, but will speak "whatever he hears."
       There is a direct line from the Father through the Son and the Spirit to the disciples.
       Every word of Jesus and the Spirit is rooted in the truth of the Father.         The things that are coming includes more than the upcoming death and resurrection
       of Jesus. It includes the various directions the Spirit will give them as they proclaim
       the Gospel of salvation. It will also include the things to know about the end times,
       as hey occur.

         "The power of God, the Spirit, received the presence of God (all the Father has) from
      the Son and declares it (i.e., gives it) to the believer. In other words, by the power the
      Spirit, God the Father becomes present in the life of the follower."
 

St. Bede: "It is certain that many filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit have foreknown future events. But as many gifted saints have never had this power, the words, He will show you things to come, may be taken to mean, bring back to your minds the Joys of your heavenly country. He did however inform the Apostles of what was to come, viz. of the evils that they would have to suffer for Christ’s sake, and the good things they would receive in recompense."
He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you."
   We are given a portrait of the three persons of the Trinity. Jesus speaks of himself, of the Spirit’s activities, and of the Father.
St. Chrysostom: "Having said then, you cannot bear them now, but then you shall be able, and, The Holy Spirit shall lead you into all truth; lest this should make them suppose that the Holy Spirit was the superior, He adds, For He shall not speak of Himself, but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak."
What experiences of God have you had? How powerful were those experiences? How did you feel the presence of God?

About the Author

Jesus said that we are to go to the ends of the world, proclaiming the Gospel of Salvation. Our recent Holy Fathers have urged us to use the social media to accomplish this task. This is just one attempt to respond to both calls. Join me in this effort.

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