Sixth Sunday of Easter
Hope...
1st Reading: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17
Philip went down to the city of Samaria
and proclaimed the Christ to them.
With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip
when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing.
For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice,
came out of many possessed people,
and many paralyzed or crippled people were cured.
There was great joy in that city.
Now when the apostles in Jerusalem
heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God,
they sent them Peter and John,
who went down and prayed for them,
that they might receive the Holy Spirit,
for it had not yet fallen upon any of them;
they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Then they laid hands on them
and they received the Holy Spirit.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
Shout joyfully to God, all the earth,
sing praise to the glory of his name;
proclaim his glorious praise.
Say to God, “How tremendous are your deeds!”
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
“Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you,
sing praise to your name!”
Come and see the works of God,
his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
He has changed the sea into dry land;
through the river they passed on foot;
therefore let us rejoice in him.
He rules by his might forever.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare
what he has done for me.
Blessed be God who refused me not
my prayer or his kindness!
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
R. Alleluia.
2nd Reading: 1 Peter 3:15-18
Beloved:
Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts.
Always be ready to give an explanation
to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope,
but do it with gentleness and reverence,
keeping your conscience clear,
so that, when you are maligned,
those who defame your good conduct in Christ
may themselves be put to shame.
For it is better to suffer for doing good,
if that be the will of God, than for doing evil.
For Christ also suffered for sins once,
the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous,
that he might lead you to God.
Put to death in the flesh,
he was brought to life in the Spirit.
Gospel: 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 always,
the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept,
because it neither sees nor knows him.
But you know him, because he remains with you,
and will be in you.
I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
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.
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.”
Biblical Context
In a land historically marked by tension with the Jews, the proclamation of Christ by Philip brings healing, joy, and unity. The signs and wonders confirm the power of the risen Lord, and the people’s hearts are opened to faith. When the apostles in Jerusalem hear of this, Peter and John come to lay hands on the new believers, and they receive the Holy Spirit.
Peter exhorts believers to be ready to give a reason for their hope, but with gentleness and reverence. Reminds them that Christian witness is not about argument or domination, but about embodying Christ’s patient suffering and love.
Jesus promises the gift of the Advocate, the Spirit of truth, to those who love him and keep his commandments. This Spirit will dwell within believers, ensuring they are never abandoned, and he assures them of his abiding presence.
Living the Word
Hope...
There are times when a community, long burdened by mistrust and wounded by division, suddenly discovers a new song of joy. Where suspicion once reigned, peace begins to blossom, where lives were fractured, bonds of belonging are restored
This joy is confirmed and strengthened when believers stand together, when faith is lived not as a private possession but as a shared communion. The Spirit of God is never given as an isolated spark; he is poured out as a fire that unites, reminding us that we are not strangers but members of one family. However, Peter reminds us that the presence of the Spirit does not erase the challenges of discipleship. To walk in Christ’s way is to be ready to explain the hope that sustains us, not with arrogance or harshness, but with gentleness and respect. Our witness is not measured by clever words or winning debates, but by the integrity of our lives. Even when misunderstood, even when opposed, we are called to suffer for good rather than compromise the truth. For our Lord himself endured suffering, the righteous for the unrighteous, so that we might be brought close to God.
The Lord promises that those who love him and keep his way will never be left as orphans. His Spirit, the Advocate, dwells within us, guiding, strengthening, and reminding us that his presence is real. The world may not understand this mystery, but we know it in the marrow of our faith: Christ lives, and because he lives, we too share in his life.
Therefore, let us be a people who reconcile where there is division, who speak hope where there is despair, who embody gentleness where there is hostility. For the Spirit who dwells among us is not a distant promise but a living reality.
BLESSED MOTHER’S DAY