Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 10, 2026
In one of the most beautifully written sentences ever written, St. Augustine states, “Our heart is restless until it rests in you.” Today’s Gospel explains how we are to live in the presence of God.
GOSPEL PASSAGE: John 14:15-21
Jesus said to his disciples: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you for ever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, because he remains with you, and he will be in you.
I will not leave you orphans; I am coming to you. In a little while, the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”
GOSPEL REFLECTIONS:
In today’s Gospel, we continue with Jesus’ final instructions during the Last Supper. Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” To “love the Lord with one’s whole heart, soul, and mind” (Matthew 22:37) is not just a fleeting emotion but a commitment of abiding with the Lord; to walk with Him, talk with Him, and live in His presence despite failures or missteps or difficulties. Love that binds to the Lord is lived responsibly, not in fear and avoidance, but in commitment and dedication. The late Saint John Paul II emphasized love coupled with responsibility in relationships between people, especially in marriage. (1) The “Song of Songs” by King Solomon speaks about the human desire for intimacy and points to humanity’s ultimate purpose: to be united with God and His wisdom. Saint Augustine expressed this longing with a simple sentence of truth: “Quia fecisti nos ad te et inquietum est cor nostrum donec requiescat in te.” “Our heart is restless until it rests in You.” (2)
Jesus promises to send an Advocate, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Counsel and Truth, the Paraclete, who is the defender. The Paraclete, from the Greek para-cletos, is the advocate, defender, helper and comforter, who stands beside the person. (3) This advocate is far more powerful than any earthly person, be it a lawyer, a counselor, or a judge, for the Holy Spirit is God’s wisdom and counsel which may find expression in the voice of a God-fearing professional. However, even if these fail, the voice of God remains. Careful listening, prayer, and discernment reveal it to the human conscience, a faculty of the human spirit. (4) God speaks to those who listen. God speaks in the silence. God speaks to those who seek Him.
Jesus says, “…This is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.” (John 14:17). The precepts of the Lord are not known to those who do not search for the Lord and who do not welcome Him. Neither can He be of relevance to those who forget about Him, who deny Him, or offend the innocent ones who trust Him and walk with Him. But His compassion is for all who humble themselves and turn to Him.
Jesus uses a beautiful image of consolation: “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.” Who is an orphan? An orphan is a child whose parents have died, or are unknown, or have abandoned them, leaving them without parental care. It applies also to those who are abandoned due to poverty or illness. (5) When we feel “abandoned” in the world, when we feel alone, when we feel vulnerable, Jesus promises to stand by us. We have our Father in Heaven and we have the Heavenly Host at our side.
“I will come to you,” says Jesus, and He explains, “In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live” (John 14:19). Jesus affirms that He will live after the resurrection, and we will live with Him in spirit, until we meet Him at the End of Times, when we will know God and He will restore our heavenly bodies and perfect minds. “On that day, you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me and I in you.” (John 14:20). This vision of the perfect unity means that God will continue to be present in our lives.
In Psalm 68, we find a reference to God as the “Father of orphans and the protector of widows.” This Psalm ends with the exhortation to “Ascribe power to God…whose power is in the skies” (Psalm 68:34). The Psalm ends with the statement, “Awesome is God in his sanctuary, the God of Israel; he gives power and strength to his people” (Psalm 68:35). Jesus, who is God incarnate, and who dwelled amongst us, was the dwelling place of God on earth—the Tabernacle of God. (6) From now on, says Jesus, there will be a living Tabernacle that will remain amongst the people and dwell in the midst of God’s people. His presence will be felt in a personal connection with the Living God.
Jesus reaffirms this vision of complete unity with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit through reiterating the conditions of it: “They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.” (John 14:21). Jesus answers the question of the young man, the lawyer, and the ruler, and all those who ran to Him and asked the same question, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17-31; Luke 10:25; Luke 18:18). Serve God and love your neighbor; do not cling to earthly status or possessions but come and follow me.
And if the question becomes: Teacher, what must I do to discover God’s will in my life? Jesus’ answer is to “give your whole life to God and He will reveal to you the will of the Father.” (6)
Jesus, I trust in you.
Sources:
- Wojtyla, K. (1960-2019). Love and Responsibility. Pauline Books and Media.
- Taylor, J. (2017). An Analysis of One of the Greatest Sentences Ever Written. The Gospel Coalition. St Augustine of Hippo (397-400 AD) Confessions, Book I, Chapter 1. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/an-analysis-of-one-of-the-greatest-sentences-ever-written/. Accessed: May 10, 2026.
- Catholic Answers Encyclopedia (2019). Paraclete. An appellation of the Holy Ghost. Retrieved from: https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/paraclete. Accessed: May 10, 2026.
- Frankl, V. E. (1948-1974). Der Unbewusste Gott. Psychotherapie und Religion. The Unconscious God. Psychotherapy and Religion. Kősel Verlag.
- Compassion International (2026). Orphan Definition: What It Means and One Boy’s Story. Retrieved from: https://www.compassion.com/blog/orphan-definition/?geo=ca. Accessed: May 10, 2026.
- Peters, T. (2022). The Gospel of John, Catholic Bible Study. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imewTXWrzOU. Retrieved on: May 10, 2026.