May 17 2020 Sixth Sunday of Easter

Acts 8:5–8, 14–17 Peter and John laid hands upon them.
Psalm 66 “Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.”
1 Peter 3:15–18 Christ suffered for sins to lead us to God.
John 14:15–21 I will give you another Advocate, the Spirit of truth.

At this time of year, when daylight is lengthening and the flowers are blooming, and nature is full of life, it feels as though God’s creation has been reborn. During the Easter season we recall that we ourselves have been reborn in baptism. Todays gospel reminds us that Jesus dwells within us. Not only that, the Holy Spirit is with us too. Therefore we we look around, we can see the full flowering of the divine in ourselves, in each other and of the whole world. 

Last week we heard that Phillip was one of the disciples chosen to assist the Twelve in their mission.preaching the word and feeding the poor. Today we hear what Phillip accomplished. He journeyed from Jerusalem, where Christians met with persecution, to Samaria where he met with much support that Luke remarks on the great joy he brought to the city. Samartians of Samaria and Jews of Judea and united in Christ. Now Peter and John join Phillip which demonstrates the solidarity of the original apostles and later disciples. All this comes together in the presence of Jesus and the Holy Spiritin all of us that are baptised. 

In the second reading Peter tells his readers “that they should always be ready to give an explanation to anyonewho asks for a reason for your hope.” (1 Peter3:15) Can you give an explanation to others “gently and reverntly”  why you hope?