Faith in action through love and mercy

Scripture for Mass

Acts 8:5-8, 14-17

Psalm 66(65): 1-3a. 4-5. 6-7a. 16,20. Response: 1

1 Peter 3:15-18

John 14:15-21

Since religion witnesses to the world of the spirit, it is sometimes dismissed as ‘pie in the sky’.  Moreover, even if the existence of God and the soul are acknowledged, since they cannot be measured and managed, they may be thought of as bringing no practical benefit to humanity as it strives to make the world a better place.

As in today’s gospel reading, Jesus frequently challenges such a perspective among his followers.

Thanks to the gift of faith, Jesus’ followers perceive God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – as truly present in their lives, both as individuals and as members of the Christian community.

This awareness of the Divine is both a privilege and a responsibility. It is a privilege in that, despite our unworthiness, God humbles himself to accompany and support us on the journey of life. It is a responsibility in that we are invited to collaborate with God in shaping our world.

We do this by welcoming the Holy Spirit who enables us to keep Jesus’ commandments, thus facilitating the realisation of God the Father’s dream for our world.

Through keeping Jesus’ commandants – by welcoming strangers and visiting prisoners, we make God’s reign of compassion and mercy real amid the harsh realities of our world. Through striving to fulfil God’s dream for our world – by loving others without preconditions and forgiving our enemies, we witness to our belief that the world of the spirit is not pie in the sky but rather the Holy Spirit renewing the face of the earth through the Church.