" The Holy Spirit dwelling in us and linking us to the Father as he linked Jesus to the Father.  "

＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊  

Acts 16:22-34

 So they set the crowd against them

And the officials tore the clothes off Paul and Silas and ordered them to be flogged.   And after inflicting many blows on them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to guard them safely.  Upon re­ceiving these instructions, he threw them into the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.   Suddenly a severe earthquake shook the place, rocking the prison to its foundations. Immediately all the doors flew open and the chains of all the pri­soners fell off.   The jailer woke up to see the prison gates wide open. Thinking that the prisoners had escaped, he drew his sword to kill himself,   but Paul shouted to him, “Do not harm yourself! We are all still here.”

 The jailer asked for a light, then rushed in, and fell at the feet of Paul and Silas.   After he had secured the other prisoners, he led them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”   They answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you and your household will be saved.”   Then they spoke the word of God to him and to all his household.

 Even at that hour of the night, the jailer took care of them and washed their wounds; and he and his whole household were baptized at once.   He led them to his house, spread a meal before them and joyfully celebrated with his whole household his newfound faith in God.

 

Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8

Your right hand saves me, O Lord.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊    

John 16:5-11

  But now I am going to the One who sent me and none of you asks me where I am going;

 instead you are overcome with grief because of what I have said.

  Indeed believe me: It is better for you that I go away, because as long as I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go away, it is to send him to you,

 and when he comes, he will vindicate the truth in face of the world with regard to sin, to the way of righteousness, and to the Judgment.

  What has been the sin? They did not believe in me.

What is the way of righteousness? I am on the way to the Father, meanwhile you will not see me.

 What Judgment? The prince of this world has himself been condemned.

 

 Gospel Reflection：

The Presence that Hinders

We continue with theme of letting God go, which we reflected on before (cf. May 17^th ). Today Jesus says that it is better that he goes away so that the Helper can come. Does it mean that his continual presence would hinder their spiritual growth?

It sounds like blasphemy, but it also points to a deeper truth. John of the Cross speaks of the various phases of our spiritual growth, with one such phase being the dark night. In the dark night, God disappears from our sensual and spiritual realms. Oh, don’t we suffer then!

But it is a necessary passage that we “lose” God in order to “find” Him at a greater depth and intimacy. It is better for us that God withdraws from us so that we will be forced to get rid of the various images and idols we have made of Him, and be led to a deeper union with Him.