Jesus reveals He will send the Holy Spirit to convince the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. Every Catholic man can grow in happiness by seeking the Gift of Counsel from the Holy Spirit so he make righteous choices and by building the Virtue of Diligence so he can pursue the Gifts of the Spirit and more effectively battle sin.
Liturgy
6th Week of Easter – Tuesday – Jn 16:5-11
Commentary
Jesus continues His Farewell Discourse (Jn 13:31-16:33) during Holy Week, preparing the Apostles for their mission after His departure. After promising to send the Holy Spirit to help men endure persecution, Jesus further explains His departure and the blessings of the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Despite living with, and being formed directly by God for three years, His Apostles are acting unmanly, uncertain, and emotional. Jesus gently rebukes the Apostles for their anxiety and sorrow about His departure and their fear about the persecutions they will soon endure. But Jesus deliberately explains the many blessings of His departure, to both comfort the Apostles, and give them hope: when Jesus departs, He will send the Holy Spirit to dwell with men and fortify them with His truth, so they can fearlessly proclaim His Gospel, and withstand the certain persecutions by the evil ones who rebel against God the Father and Son.
In addition to the comfort of the Holy Spirit, Jesus reveals the powerful impact the Holy Spirit will have as part of God’s glorious plan of Salvation: the Holy Spirit will convince the world of sin; the coming of the Holy Spirit will confirm Jesus’ proclamations about sin through His Holy Catholic Church; the Holy Spirit will cause the widespread understanding of the Resurrection of Jesus and His Ascension to God the Father; the Holy Spirit will act to judge the world, including the condemnation of Satan and all the evil who hate Jesus and His Kingdom, the Holy Catholic Church.
Be awed by Jesus Christ
With joy and dread, consider the Divine Justice of Jesus Christ as He sends the Holy Spirit into the world to: convince the world of the Righteousness of Jesus; convict (from the Greek: expose, refute, and shame) those who do not believe in Jesus; condemn Satan and every enemy of Jesus in the coming Judgment.
Rely on the Counsel of the Spirit to make right choices
Realize: Men who have not yet been given the gift of faith in Christ and not yet received His Sacraments, face the battles and sufferings of the world alone. In stark contrast, Jesus has promised that Catholic men can receive the Holy Spirit in Baptism and expand the Spirit’s supernatural help in the Sacraments of Confirmation.
Believe: Reflect upon the powerful Sacrament of Confirmation (CCC 1285-1321).
Pray: Holy Spirit, give me the Gift of Counsel so I always remain free from mortal sin and can rely on the Spirit to automatically guide me to take holy action as I face the small and large challenges in my life and do Thy Will in all things.
Diligently seek the Gifts of the Spirit to battle sin
Realize: In the fallen world where more and more sins are considered to be “no big deal” and perversions are pridefully celebrated, the Holy Spirit protects those close to Jesus from being lulled into sin; every Catholic man through his Baptism and Confirmation has received the Holy Spirit, who continues to abide in the soul of a man throughout his entire life and provides supernatural Gifts of the Holy Spirit to help a man to battle against sin and proceed towards Paradise.
Believe: Reflect upon God’s plan for Man in Paradise (CCC 374-379, 384) and the temptations of the Fallen World (CCC 385-421).
Pray: Almighty Father, help me build the Virtue of Diligence (a part of Temperance) so I work hard to recognize my vulnerability to temptations to sin by the Evil One and diligently strive to accept the Holy Spirit’s help to battle sin and grow in holiness.