Empowered by the Spirit!

Monday, May 26, 2025

Acts 16:11-15; Jn 15:26-16:4a

Today’s Gospel highlights the work of the Holy Spirit in witnessing to Christ and empowering his disciples. 

The dual emphasis – the coming of the Holy Spirit and the impending persecution of Jesus’ disciples – is because of the shift from chapter 15 to 16. 

The coming of the Paraclete is very significant because the disciples of Christ can now look up to the Advocate to help them in their mission. Moreover, the coming of the Spirit of God reassures the disciples of Christ that they are not left alone in their trials and tribulations. The Spirit of Truth will help the disciples to fight for the truth and die for it, if need be. Hence, the coming of the Spirit infuses hope in the disciples to carry forward the mission of Christ. 

Jesus’ foretelling of the persecution is not intended to intimidate his disciples. Instead, Jesus prepares his disciples to expect what he himself suffered. Moreover, Jesus’ warning is not mere rhetoric. The Helper he promises will empower his disciples’ mission and testimony. In this sense, the end of chapter 15 and the beginning of chapter 16 are related in the way they tie the Spirit’s work to prepare and strengthen the disciples to face the future opposition. 

The passage reveals that God never leaves us alone in our misfortune without a Divine Helper. 

Let us pray that, empowered by the Spirit of God, we may be genuinely involved in God’s mission. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar