The gospel for the memorial of St. Philip Neri Priest is taken from John 15th chapter 26 to 16th chapter 4th verse. Jesus said to his disciples when the advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father he will testify to me and you also testify because you have been with me from the beginning. I have told you this so that you may not fall away. They will expel you from the synagogues. In fact the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God.

They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me. I’ve told you this so that when the hour comes you may remember that I told you. I try to put my mind in the place of the disciples minds and thinking. They’re so excited about the teaching that Jesus has given them and they have no real idea of what it’s like to teach what Jesus has taught them. And so Jesus caring for them as he does, he wants so much for them to recognize that things are going to be very very difficult. But I want you to know that I’ve told you this to prepare you for it and I will be with you.

The advocate will be with you. Please spend the next moments in reflection and then I will close with a prayer. Foreign Let us pray. Father, to speak the truth has never been easy especially when there are people living the lie. Bless us with the kind of conviction that we need to have of what is true and help us to be strong and to proclaim it with a conviction that it is the very necessary thing that we have to have in order to find peace. And we ask this in Jesus name.

Amen.