Sixth Sunday of Easter  Gospel  A
 
Jesus said: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
· Jesus links love and obedience. One’s obedience is a sign of one’s love.
· A mark of discipleship is obedience to Jesus' words.
· How do we assess our love for Jesus? How is our life and actions guided by his words?

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. 
· This is the same Spirit the Father anointed Jesus with at his baptism.
· This is the first time that Jesus promises the Spirit to the disciples. 
· The Greek word used is Parakletos.  This term is used five times in the New Testament: four times in the Gospel of John to refer to the Holy Spirit and once in 1 John 2:1 to refer to Jesus. The word basically means one who is called in to help another who is in trouble, such as an advocate, counselor or defender.
· Jesus refers to sending another advocate. He is one and the Spirit is the other.
· Spirit of truth is in opposition to the father of lies—the devil.

But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you.
· One role of the Spirit is to dwell in us so that we can have a personal relationship with the Spirit. Do we recognize the presence of the Spirit within us? By what signs? How attentive are we to the inner leadings of the Spirit within us?

 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
· Jesus has already told them about his upcoming Passion and death, as well as his resurrection. Thus, they will feel abandoned for a short period time but he promises to return and be with them. When we have a sense of abandonment by God, is our faith strong enough to stand on this word of Jesus?

In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you.
· The reason for the world not being able to see Jesus is that he will suffer the cruel death of the cross. But the disciples will see him because he will rise from the dead after three days. The resurrection will confirm his relationship with the Father and their relationship with him.

Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him." 
· This restates verse 15 in reverse order. Love leads to obedience; obedience to love.
· In today’s Gospel what speaks to you most strongly about your relationship with God?
· Other reflections?
· How is God asking you to respond to this word?