Gospel: John 15:26-16:4

 

In chapters 15 to 17 of the Gospel of John, the horizon extends beyond the historical moment of the Last Supper. Jesus prays to the Father, “not only for these but also for those who through their teaching will come to believe in Me” (Jn 17:20). In these chapters, there is constant reference to the action of the Spirit in the life of the communities after Easter.

 

The first thing that the Spirit does is to give witness to Jesus. The Spirit is not a spiritual being without a definition. He is the Spirit of Truth who comes from the Father, will be sent by Jesus Himself, and introduces us to the complete truth, to Jesus Himself. 

 

At the end of the first century, some Christians were so fascinated by the action of the Spirit that they no longer looked at Jesus. The Gospel of John takes a stand and does not permit the action of the Spirit to be separated from the memory of Jesus. The Holy Spirit cannot be isolated with an independent greatness, separated from the mystery of the Incarnation. The Holy Spirit is inseparably united to the Father and to Jesus. 

 

The Gospel tells us that to be faithful to Jesus will lead us to difficulties. The disciples will be excluded from the Synagogue. They will be condemned to death. The same thing that happened to Jesus will happen to them. This is why at the end of the first century, there were people who, in order to avoid persecution, diluted or watered down the message of Jesus. The Risen Christ who promises to give us the gift of the Spirit is Jesus of Nazareth who continues to have, even now, the signs of torture and of the cross on His risen Body.