The Gospel of the Holy Spirit: The Seventh Sunday of Easter 2025

The Gospel of the Holy Spirit:

The Seventh Sunday of Easter 2025 

June 1, 2025

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Acts 7:55-60; Psalm 97; Revelation 22:12-20; John 17:20-26

 

The Acts of the Apostles, from which we hear today’s first reading, is aptly called “The Gospel of the Holy Spirit,” because we get to see how the Spirit animates the first disciples. The martyr, Stephen, could not act as bravely without the Spirit’s lead, and amid his great trial, he had to presence of mind to forgive his attackers. The future Paul witnessed this testimony and death. One wonders if his heart was moved in any way because he was one of the prime persecutors of believers in Jesus. The Spirit was at work in a man whose heart was closed by ideologies. 

 

We know that Paul had a great conversion, broke centuries-old boundaries, and was instrumental in reforming the early church to make it more inclusive. Paul went from being a persecutor to a defender to a builder of churches to its first theologian. That was certainly some effort by the Holy Spirit. We marvel at the Spirit’s silent, invisible power. As we read from the Gospel, the Spirit’s gift to us in unity. In the passage, Jesus prays that we know that we are one and that we support one another. We are interdependent and we can rely upon our commonalities.

 

The Spirit continues to quietly lead the Church today. We see it in the actions and choices of people in the ways they celebrate funerals, weddings, how and where they attend worship services. The model of the parish church has been evolving and we cannot see how future parish life will look. We do see an increase interest in spirituality of all types, in eco-spirituality and responsible stewardship, in lay leadership of religious institutions, in the acceptance of women’s roles in administration and formation, in Artificial Intelligence, and in the sciences. We see a rise in spiritual seekers, who were never raised in a faith tradition, and they speak a language different from church talk. We see people who are estranged from church, from family members, with nowhere to turn. We see discoveries in the cosmos as we wrestle with discoveries in space and time. As much as we are gaining new knowledge, we recognize we know principles much less certain than ever before. 

 

The Holy Spirit guided the Cardinals to elect Pope Leo who is interested in Christian unity, and in practicing peace through dialogue – certainly a new style of communicating within the church. Certainly, pastors and dioceses have yet to imagine the possibilities of shared dialogue and meaningful listening. The Pope has stated that he wants the Church to be like the missionary, unifying, community-building model of St. Paul, building bridges and encouraging dialogue, to be welcoming, and to respond to all those who need charity, especially those who are suffering. In promoting a synodal style, he calls for believers to build unity through one’s attitudes towards colleague, to be patient with misunderstandings and misperceptions, to practice humility and to serve the needs of others first, and to avoid making prejudicial judgments.

 

Unity does not mean that we think and speak alike. Unity is a fundamental attitude of presuming goodwill. It means we see goodness in others and we allow other voices to be heard respectfully and in charity. Unity means that we must put love of others in greater esteem than love for ourselves. Others will do the same for us, and we will have balance as we strive for a healthy community. That’s the power of love. Along with that comes joy because we realize we can care for each other. 

 

Scripture for Daily Mass

Monday: (Acts 19) Paul went through the interior of Greece and down to Ephesus to introduce the believers to the Holy Spirit. The community was baptized into the Body of Christ.  

 

Tuesday: (Acts 20) The presbyters at Ephesus summoned Paul, who told them that he was going to an uncertain fate in Jerusalem. Paul recounts the ways he served the Lord with humility, tears, and trials, but imprisonment and hardships await him. 

 

Wednesday: (Acts 20) Paul prays for the whole flock and he prays for them because he knows adversaries will take advantage of Paul’s absence. When Paul finished speaking, the people wept loudly and threw their arms around him and kissed him.  

 

Thursday: (Acts 22) Paul is brought to trial. The Pharisees and Sadducees are sharply divided; armed forces rescue Paul from their midst. The Lord tells Paul he must go to Rome and be faithful there the same way he was faithful in Jerusalem.  

 

Friday (Acts 25) King Agrippa hears Paul’s case and determines that Paul is to be tried in Jerusalem, but Paul, as a Roman citizen, appeals for the Emperor’s decision.  

 

Saturday (Acts 28) When Paul entered Rome, he was allowed to live by himself. He called together the leaders of the Jews to let them know the charges brought against them. He told them his story. He remained for two years in his lodgings and received all who came to him without hindrance as he proclaimed the Kingdom of God.

 

Gospel: 

Monday: (John 16) The disciples realize Jesus is returning to the Father and that he is strengthening them for the time when he will not longer be physically with them.  

 

Tuesday: (John 17) Jesus raises his eyes to heaven and realizes it is time to glorify the Father through his death so he may give eternal life to all that we given to him. He revealed God’s name to them and now it is time to see the glory of God revealed.

 

Wednesday (John 17) Jesus prays for the safety of those given to him. He wants them to be safe as they testify to God’s steadfastness in a harsh world. He prays for unity, “so that they may be one just as we, Father, are one.” 

 

Thursday (John 17) Jesus consecrates them to the truth and wards off the Evil One. He also prays for those given to him through the testimony of others. The love Jesus and the Father share is available to future disciples. 

 

Friday (John 21) After the Farewell Discourse ends, Jesus appears at the seashore with Simon Peter who professes his three-fold love of Jesus. Jesus forgives him and asks him to care for his people even though the authorities of this world will eventually have their day with him. 

 

Saturday (John 21) Peter turns to Jesus and asks about the Beloved Disciple. Jesus retorts, “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours?” This disciple is the one who wrote the testimony about Jesus and can attest to its truth.

 

Saints of the Week

 

June 1: Justin, martyr (100-165), was a Samaritan philosopher who converted to Christianity and explained doctrine through philosophical treatises. His debating opponent reported him to the Roman authorities who tried him and when he refused to sacrifice to the gods, was condemned to death. 

 

June 2: Marcellinus and Peter, martyrs (d. 304) died in Rome during the Diocletian persecution. Peter was an exorcist who ministered under the well-regarded priest, Marcellinus. Stories are told that in jail they converted their jailer and his family. These men are remembered in Eucharistic prayer I. 

 

June 3: Charles Lwanga and 22 companion martyrs from Uganda (18660-1886) felt the wrath of King Mwanga after Lwanga and the White Fathers (Missionaries of Africa) censured him for his cruelty and immorality. The King determined to rid his kingdom of Christians. He persecuted over 100 Christians, but upon their death new converts joined the church. 

 

June 5: Boniface, bishop and martyr (675-754), was born in England and raised in a Benedictine monastery. He became a good preacher and was sent to the northern Netherlands as a missionary. Pope Gregory gave him the name Boniface with an edict to preach to non-Christians. He was made a bishop in Germany and gained many converts when he cut down the famed Oak of Thor and garnered no bad fortune by the Norse gods. Many years later he was killed by non-Christians when he was preparing to confirm many converts. The church referred to him as the "Apostle of Germany."

 

June 6: Norbert, bishop (1080-1134), a German, became a priest after a near-death experience. He became an itinerant preacher in northern France and established a community founded on strict asceticism. They became the Norbertines and defended the rights of the church against secular authorities.

This Week in Jesuit History

 

• June 1, 1527. Ignatius was thrown into prison after having been accused of having advised two noblewomen to undertake a pilgrimage, on foot, to Compostella. 
• June 2, 1566. The Professed House was opened in Toledo. It became well known for the fervor of its residents and the wonderful effects of their labors. 
• June 3, 1559. A residence at Frascati, outside of Rome, was purchased for the fathers and brothers of the Roman College. 
• June 4, 1667. The death in Rome of Cardinal Sforza Pallavicini, a man of great knowledge and humility. While he was Prefect of Studies of the Roman College he wrote his great work, The History of the Council of Trent. 
• June 5, 1546. Paul III, in the document Exponi Nobis, empowered the Society to admit coadjutors, both spiritual and temporal. 
• June 6, 1610. At the funeral of Henry IV in Paris, two priests preaching in the Churches of St Eustace and St Gervase denounced the Jesuits as accomplices in his death. This was due primarily to the book De Rege of Father Mariana. 
• June 7, 1556. Peter Canisius becomes the first provincial superior of the newly constituted Province of Upper Germany.