5.19.20 - Confirmation, Personal vs Evangelical Value of Christian Hope, and Agape Again

The main takeaways from last night's discussion are:

1. Acts: The Story of the Samaritan Pentecost and the Origin of Confirmation.

2. Peter: The Personal and Evangelical Value of Christian Hope.

3. John: Equating Agape Love with Jesus’ Commandments, and Tackling the Mystery of the Holy Spirit.

Of course, you may have your own takeaways!

The Q&As follow each reading.

1st Reading: Acts of the Apostles 8:5-8, 14-17: Philip and the laying on of hands

Setting: After the martyrdom of Stephen (deacon), many Christians fled Jerusalem.

Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them. With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what Philip said when they heard him and saw the signs he was doing. For unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed crying with a loud voice; and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. There was great joy in that city.

Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who went down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for the Spirit had not yet fallen on any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

Questions

What this Philip the Apostle or Philip the Deacon?

Philip the Deacon

Why did he go to Samaria?

There was a period of persecution after the other deacon, Stephen, was martyred. This caused a dispersal a number of disciples, such as Philip going to Samaria.

Why did Peter and John have to come, and what is the significance of the "laying of hands"?

Grace from the HS is profound and multifarious. The grace given through the laying of Apostles’ (bishops’) hands is the grace to communicate and defend the faith (evangelize). The CCC notes in article #1288 that the sacrament of Confirmation "perpetuates the grace of Pentecost in the Church."

What is the Samaritan Pentecost?

The lost 10 tribes of Israel occurred when the northern kingdom of Israel was conquered in 722 BC by the Assyrians. See map – the Northern Kingdom is Samaria and Galilee. Samaria particularly came to be inhabited by mixed Gentile-Jews. It was long prophesied that God would someday come back for the lost tribes. This is why Jesus, after his baptism with John, traveled to Zebulun and Naphtali, and then to the Samaria (recall the Samaritan woman at the well). Now it’s the Holy Spirit’s turn, which makes this pivotal event the Samaritan’s version of the Pentecost.

2nd Reading: 1 Peter 3:13-17

Always be prepared to give an explanation to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good behavior in Christ may themselves be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is the will of God, than for doing wrong.

Questions

Hope is optimism that is founded on belief. Living with this kind of hope is one of the ways lay Christians are called to evangelize. Why?

Because people are attracted to hopeful people. Christians who are hopeful live their lives positively, are committed to doing (or defending) the right thing, do not gossip or speak poorly of others, and are helpful to others.

Some will want to know why or how you carry yourself the way you do, and this opens the door for a conversation about your faith.

What is Christian hope based upon?

When Christ came, evil and death were conquered. The war between Good and Evil is over. Only our individual battles continue because we still have free will.

Since Christians already know how the human story ends, it is easier to put our temporary, worldly difficulties in the proper, subordinate perspective.

Gospel Reading: John 14:15-21 Jesus’ Farewell Discourse cont’d… The Advocate/Jesus’ Commandments and Love

Jesus said to his disciples: If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Paraclete (Advocate/Counselor) to be with you always; the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot accept because it neither sees nor knows him. But you know him because he remains with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while, the world will no longer see me, but you will see me because I live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me, and I in you. Whoever observes my commands is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.

Questions

Does Jesus’ statement, “If you love me, keep my commandments” sound reasonable?

It depends on what he means by "loving him" and what kind of commandments he is talking about...

Okay, so what kind of love is Jesus talking about?

To love others as he loves them. To love God and love their neighbors as themselves. Who are your neighbors? Everyone, apparently even your enemies. The greatest love there is to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. This is Agape love. It is Trinitarian Love: unconditional and totally self-giving. Just like the love Jesus has been showing/giving them.

And what commandments is Jesus referring to?

To love others as he has loved them. To love God and love their neighbors as themselves. Who are our neighbors? Everyone, even our enemies. Agape and Trinitarian love.

Very interesting. So, both the love and the commandments he is asking for are the exact same thing.

What love is he asking us to emulate?

I'm glad you asked. He is asking us to love him the same way he loves the Father. In other words, he is teaching Trinitarian love.

How exactly is this love connected to commandments?

Love is defined by action, our behavior. Talk is good but it's cheap in comparison. If you love someone, they ultimately only know it by the things you do. If they align with your lofty words, you are in a good place. Likewise, agape love is all about how we act and treat others. Jesus’ commandments are the actions, the how, of loving.

How do we get some help with this kind of love?

Note Romans 5:5: “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.”

Which brings us to the Holy Spirit!

The Holy Spirit

What is meant by Paraclete?

Paraclete comes from the Greek “parakletos” and can mean lawyer, advocate, intercessor, counselor, protector, or supporter. Therefore, the word means to be at someone's side, whether it's to counsel, console, defend, or protect that person.

What is meant by “another” Paraclete?

Up until this time, Jesus has been their advocate, counselor, and protector. However, Jesus has accomplished the task he was sent to do, and now it is time for them to meet another member of the Trinity who will help them do many of the things Jesus did.

Why will the world no longer see Jesus, but the disciples will?

Because after his Resurrection Jesus will return to his disciples only for 40 days. This one-time gift is so that Jesus can:

1) show them that death has truly been overcome, and perhaps what a glorified body can do,

2) explain everything that the disciples were unable to comprehend before the Resurrection, and

3) prepare them for the Holy Spirit and what he will be asking them to do next.

Why can’t the world receive the Spirit of Truth?

Because they don’t believe in the Spirit of Truth nor do they seem interested in understanding. This is called wish-fulfillment. It's also how justice works (self-fulfilling).

Do you see a connection between the Word of God and the Spirit of Truth?

Yes, there is a connection. One is the 2nd Person of the Holy Trinity and one is the 3rd Person of the Holy Trinity. However, is there really a difference between the Word of God and the Truth of God? No. The difference is in the role they play.

What do we know about the Holy Spirit?

As the Paul says in Romans 5, the HS is the outpouring of Love.

We know that Grace comes from HS (baptism, Pentecost, inspiration…)

We know the HS delivered life and spirit to mankind in Genesis 2:7.

We know that the HS has spoken through the prophets, which means he is a communicator and provides inspiration.

We know the HS delivered human/Logos Life to Mary.

We know that Jesus called him the Spirit of Truth.

That is one heck of a lot of very lofty roles! Love, Grace, Spirit, Life, Inspiration, Communicator, and now Truth. It looks like the HS is about to corner the market on Trinitarian attributes!

However, if we look closer we shall see that he is communicating and delivering.

God breathed his spirit into man.

He is the love that proceeds from the Father and the Son.

The Holy Spirit overshadowed/delivered Logos to Mary.

He descended upon Jesus in his Baptism.

The HS was breathed by Jesus into the Apostles in the Upper Room after his Resurrection.

Tongues of fire were carried by the wind into the Upper Room at Pentecost.

I remember reading Proverbs years ago and thinking that the HS was Wisdom. I now realize that Jesus is Wisdom (Logos/Word) of God, which means it was the HS who was providing/communicating the wisdom.

All that being said, the HS is more than the messenger of good news or a delivery service.

He not only communicates and delivers, he also possesses these qualities (he is one/coequal with the Father and Son); also, he doesn’t leave like delivery guys do. He stays and continues to provide. He is enabling a relationship-forming experience.

Therefore, if we say that God IS love, then perhaps we could say that the Holy Spirit is the verb of love.

Note: Jesus said... "The Advocate, the Holy Spirit…will teach you everything and remind you all that I told you.” (Jn 14:26)

Okay, so it only make sense that we add "Teacher" to his verbness!

What are all the things the HS can be/do for us?

Advocate, Counselor, Advisor, Teacher, Supporter, Intercessor, and Protector.

All of these are major, strategic relationship-building activities!

If you recall that Heaven will involve a relationship with the Trinity, then maybe this is starting to make sense.

Last thing to remember: we could not have the HS until Jesus repaired our Fall and provided us this bridge.