The Gospel for Tuesday of the sixth week of Easter is taken from John 16. Jesus said to his disciples, now I am going to the one who sent me. And not one of you asked me, where are you going? But because I told you this grief has filled your hearts. But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you.

But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation. Sin because they do not believe in me. Righteousness because I am going to the Father. And you will no longer see me condemnation because the ruler of this world has been condemned. The disciples had learned to lean on the presence of Jesus as their teacher.

And he’s now telling them that he’s going to leave them. And they’re distraught and worried and afraid. And what he reminds them is that his promise has always been to be with them. And he will be with them as the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Blessed Trinity. The most exciting thing that he’s saying to his disciples is that now that Jesus has died and returned to the Father and sent the advocate, the Holy Spirit, sin has been condemned, exposed, revealed, and we are much closer now than ever to the kingdom of God being established. Please spend the next moments in reflection, and then I will close with a prayer.

Closing prayer Father, there’s a way in which we hear so much about all that is going on in the world that is negative. It’s easy to fear that the world is getting worse, when in truth it is getting better. It is continuing to move in the direction of light and life. That’s the promise that God has made to the disciples and to each of us. And we ask this in Jesus name. Amen.

Sa.