GOSPEL: John 14:15-21
If you love me you will keep my commandments. I shall ask the Father, and he will give you another Paraclete to be with you for ever, the Spirit of truth whom the world can never accept since it neither sees nor knows him; but you know him, because he is with you, he is in you. I shall not leave you orphans; I shall come to you. In a short time the world will no longer see me; but you will see that I live and you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you. Whoever holds to my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves me; and whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I shall love him and reveal myself to him.'


REFLECTION
In his ‘Farewell Speech' at the Last Supper with his disciples, Jesus prepares them not only for his departure from this world, but also for the reception of the Holy Spirit. In this week’s gospel text, Jesus, after repeating his favourite theme of ‘loving one another,’ promises them ‘another Paraclete’ or Advocate besides himself to remain with them forever, and emphasizes the intimate unity between him, the Father and the disciples. In John’s gospel, Jesus’ words about loving his Father are closely associated with doing his will and obeying him. Similarly, faithfulness or obedience to Jesus’ words is a sign of a disciple’s love for him as well as the hallmark of discipleship. That is why he tells his disciples that loving him also involves obeying his commandments.

In today’s gospel text, we get the impression that the Holy Spirit will not come if Jesus will not depart from this world. That is why he calls the Holy Spirit not as the Paraclete, but rather as ANOTHER Paraclete.

This word ‘Paraclete’ means one who is called to one’s side as a helper when the person who calls him is in trouble, distress or doubt. It can refer to a person who comes to the help of someone in times of danger or adversity.  It can also mean a lawyer (as in a case in the court) who fights your case on your behalf. Further, it can mean a defender to stand by your side. There are various translations for this word such as Counsellor, Advocate, Comforter, Consoler and Helper. Each word connotes different aspects of what the Holy Spirit does by continuing Jesus’ divine presence in the world, namely giving comfort, counsel, or strength in time of need.

Just like Jesus, the Paraclete is the Father’s gift of love for the disciples, and just as Jesus himself is the truth, the Paraclete is the Spirit of truth (14:17). Just as Jesus came to bear testimony to the truth (18:37), the Holy Spirit is now in his place to do the same. Since Jesus himself is the truth, bearing testimony to the truth is the same as bearing witness to Jesus, or to the revelation of God as given by Jesus. He says that the world cannot receive the Spirit of truth because it neither sees nor knows him.

This week’s gospel prepares us for the forthcoming feast of Pentecost by reminding us of the promise of Jesus to continue his powerful, permanent and personal presence in our midst through the Holy Spirit. First of all, the best way to prepare for this feast is to remain faithfully obedient to Jesus’ commandments. In today’s gospel Jesus invites us to love him by obeying his commandments. His number one commandment is to practice the type of love with which he loved his disciples within our own community of believers. To love one another as Jesus loved precisely means to heal, feed, serve, share, care for, self-sacrifice and forgive others as he did. If we say that we love Jesus, we are called to prove our love for him by choosing to love as he loved. The question is whether we consciously try to choose (by making a decision of the mind) to serve, care for, make self-sacrifice and forgive as Jesus did when our mind is not inclined to do so?

Jesus willed that there should be a special quality of love for “one another” within the Christian community so that their love may become a witness to the world to recognize his presence in them. This special quality of love among us makes us worthy to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of love and life – promised by Jesus. If the people of the world notice petty bickering, infighting, linguistic/ ethnic/ racial/ caste conflicts, divisions and open fights within the Christian community, it is shameful to say that we are Christ’s followers to people of other faiths. If this happens how can we say that the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts and in our Christian community? People will know that we are Christians not by our love but by our fight. Therefore, as we prepare ourselves for Pentecost, this week’s gospel invites us to examine the quality of our love, so that we become worthy temples of the Holy Spirit.

MASS SERVICES
Whilst we are still unable to physically attend mass, I would like to remind everyone that the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn will continue to broadcast mass each day so that we can listen in and participate in the celebration.

Resource URL: https://www.catholicvoice.org.au/mass-online/

St Augustine's Parish is also delivering a Liturgy of the Word each Sunday. To participate in this, could you please forward your email to the Parish Office: yass@cg.org.au  and they will email you a link to join the service.

OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS
This Sunday we celebrate the feast day to Mary Help of Christians.  

The feast day to Mary Help of Christians has been celebrated in Australia since 1844 but the history to this day dates back to the start of the 1800’s.

Napoleon Bonaparte had jailed Pius VI who died in jail. When Pope Pius VII was elected he too was jailed by Bonaparte, who kept him prisoner at Fontainbleau.

The Holy Father vowed to God that if he were restored to the Roman See, he would institute a special feast in honour of Mary.

The military eventually forced Bonaparte to release the Pope and on 24 May 1814, Pius VII returned in triumph to Rome.

Twelve months later the Pope decreed that the feast of Mary Help of Christians be kept on 24 May.

The infant church in Australia had a special reason for turning to Mary. No priests were sent to the colony in its early days and Mass was not allowed except for one brief year until 1820. It was largely the Rosary in those early days that kept the faith alive.

Catholic Australia remained faithful to Mary and was the first nation to choose her under the title Help of Christians, as principal Patroness.

St Mary’s Cathedral was dedicated in her honour by the Irish pioneer priest, Fr John Therry, who arrived in Sydney in 1820 and assumed responsibility for the planning and initial construction of the Cathedral.

When Australia became the first country to have Mary Help of Christians as Patroness, it became the first country to have a mother-cathedral under the same title. https://www.catholicweekly.com.au/24-may-our-lady-help-of-christians/

PRAYER FOR MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS
Mary Help of Christians patroness of Australia and of the Military Ordinariate

Almighty God, deepen in our hearts
our love of Mary Help of Christians.
Through her prayers and under her protection,
may the light of Christ shine over our land.
May Australia be granted harmony, justice and peace.
Grant wisdom to our leaders and integrity to our citizens.
Bless especially the men and women
of the Australian Defence Force and their families.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Mary Help of Christians, pray for us.

LAUDATO SI WEEK
Addressing his viewers and listeners during the midday Regina Caeli prayer on Sunday, May 17, Pope Francis announced the start of the “Laudato Sì” Week across the world that will conclude on the anniversary day, Sunday, May 24.  

“In these times of the pandemic, in which we are more aware of the importance of care for our common home,” he said, “I hope that all the common reflection and commitment may help to create and strengthen constructive attitudes for the care of creation.” https://www.vaticannews.va/en

Please take a moment to listen to Pope Francis: https://safeYouTube.net/w/WVbG

Laudato Si’ Week honors the fifth anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical on care for our common home. The theme of the week is “everything is connected.”

This week launches a year-long journey of transformation, as we grow through the crisis of the current moment by praying, reflecting, and preparing together for a better world to come tomorrow.

Following Pope Francis’ invitation to join Laudato Si’ Week, Catholics everywhere will reflect and prepare for action 16-24 May.

We’ll put our preparation into action during the Season of Creation this September, when Pope Francis has invited Catholics to pray and act for our common home. https://laudatosiweek.org/

God Bless,
Warren Ziebowski
Religious Education Coordinator