Taking part in the bond of love of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit

Sixth Sunday in Easter, May 29, 2011
Fr. Joseph Eddy, O. de M.
Gospel: John 14:15-21 “The Spirit of truth… dwells with you, and will be in you.”

Full text of homily: Like many people, I became interested in American Idol this season. It seemed like there was so much talent in the young people who performed. Scotty, the deep voiced country star, went away with the title, but really any of the 10 finalists were capable of winning. Scotty seemed to have an innocence about him.  It appeared as though he was raised in a devote Christian home. It is my hope that he will not get caught up in the Hollywood scene and lose this innocence. Popular culture tends to idolize these stars; overemphasizing physical beauty and perfection. Stars are almost held up as gods.

Fr. Joseph Eddy is the vocation director of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy, founded to redeem Christians whose faith is in danger. The Order’s student house in the U.S. is in Philadelphia.

Is God calling you to become a Mercedarian friar? Visit Fr. Joseph’s Facebook page, or the website of the .

But in our day, the Lord has also raised up many true examples of heroes who appear to have an appeal that comes from the inside rather than the external. Blessed Mother Teresa and Blessed John Paul II are examples of this transcendent beauty. Neither one of these people were successful by worldly standards. They lived simple lives. They did not possess physical beauty which drew people’s attention to them. Yet, wherever they appeared huge crowds came just to get a glimpse of them. People would hold their children out to get them close to these two examples of holiness. Crowds listened to every word that they said even as these two blesseds aged and lost the ability speak eloquently.  What was the draw of these two human beings?

A beauty from within

Well, as we go through the Acts of the Apostles in the first reading we see the same effect going on. As Philip proclaims Christ to the people of Samaria, the crowds “with one accord” pay attention to him. His words and mere presence is “effective”: Unclean spirits come out of those possessed and the paralyzed or crippled are cured. In a word Philip’s mere presence brings “joy.”

Philip was not a god or an American idol. He was just a man who was filled with the Holy Spirit. Each of us who are baptized received that same Holy Spirit. At our baptism, we became “temples of the Holy Spirit.” God himself has made his dwelling place among us. Jesus explains this to his disciples in the Gospel today. When he is taken up to heaven, the Father will send “another Advocate.” An advocate is one who “speaks on another’s behalf.” The Holy Spirit speaks on our behalf to the Father. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. He is the love between the Father and the Son.

Bringing us into unity with the Trinity

The Trinity is indivisible; meaning the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct, but inseparable. The Father sends the Son to redeem us. The Son returns to the Father, but the Father sends us the Holy Spirit to bring us into communion with the Trinity. We are brought into a relationship with the God that allows us to call him Father. It was unthinkable to the Jewish people, to call God, Father!

We have an opportunity to take part in the bond of love between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is a communion of body, soul, and spirit that is a foretaste of heaven.  Try to imagine someone who lived their life in a communion with the living God. They would be very attractive people. Everyone who met them would say, “Something is different about this person.” We see the example of this in the lives of the Saints and in those on their way to canonization, such as Blessed Mother Teresa and Blessed John Paul II. They were living in union with God while on earth, and people could see it in them.

Called to holiness by our baptism

We too can experience this union. In fact, we are all called to this holiness by our baptism. To allow the Holy Spirit to have more effect in our lives. We do this first, by avoiding serious sin which has nothing to do with God. Communion means that we are united to God in our mind, hearts, and actions. We also grow in a life of prayer each day. We recognize that the Holy Spirit is always with us. We can always pray, because God is inside of us. Realizing this joy of living in the Spirit makes us want to share it with others. We, like Philip, M. Teresa, and John Paul II, take the Gospel with us wherever we go. When people ask us the reason for our great faith, hope, and love we tell them about Christ. This is done with all “gentleness and reverence” always recognizing others’ dignity and free will.

Yes, our world is searching for idols; for people to admire and look up to. Often times, we look for these role models in merely external ways. But, that which is true, beautiful, and good will come only from the source of all things, God. Our God calls us to a communion with the Trinity that can bring unimaginable peace and joy. We experience a foretaste of this in the Holy Spirit, who dwells with us and leads us to union with the Trinity. Those who live this reality to the fullest achieve a holiness which transcends this world. Let us seek this holiness which ultimately leads others to God. We too can attract people to Jesus, the way, the truth, and the Life. We become living gospels which lead others to Christ.