The Spirit of truth

 Pentecost Sunday Year B, 23rd May 2021

Gospel 15: 26–7; 16: 12–15

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘When the Advocate comes,

whom I shall send to you from the Father,

the Spirit of truth who issues from the Father,

he will be my witness.

And you too will be witnesses,

because you have been with me from the outset. I still have many things to say to you,

But they would be too much for you now.

But when the Spirit of truth comes,

he will lead you to the complete truth,

since he will not be speaking as from himself

but will say only what he has learned:

and he will tell you of the things to come.

He will glorify me, since all he tells you

will be taken from what is mine.

Everything the Father has is mine;

this is why I said:

All he tells you will be taken from what is mine.’

Image from Parousia Press

Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

I prepare for prayer by deliberately slowing down, asking for inner stillness of mind, body and heart. I ask the Spirit of truth to enlighten my mind and lead me as I read today’s Gospel passage.

I gently permit Jesus’s words to sink in, maybe as if spoken directly to me. I may choose to stay with a particular word or phrase.

I talk with Jesus about the way I feel as I hear his words.

I read the text again. Perhaps I notice how Jesus speaks of the Father and of the Spirit, and am drawn to ponder the mystery of the Trinity.

How might God be inviting me into this relationship?

Perhaps I feel drawn and comforted by Jesus’s promise of the Advocate, who will ‘lead me to the complete truth’. I pray that the Holy Spirit will make this promise more profound and personal within my own heart.

I rest in prayerful silence, allowing the Lord to touch me as he wills. Trusting in his love, I share with him what arises.

I end my time of prayer asking for the gift of greater openness to the power of the Holy Spirit, who has already called me into life. Our Father ...

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