Fifth Friday of Easter – Acts 15:22-31; John 15:12-17

For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us . . .

In the Church, which safeguards and continues the saving message of Jesus, the Holy Spirit is powerfully present. He alone leads us to remain faithful to our Lord and Founder. A Church that truly embodies Christ’s mission stands vibrant and resourceful, constantly flourishing by discerning, evaluating, and acting. Yet if it retreats into a narrowed, defensive posture, it decays from within.

The Holy Spirit’s presence does not exempt us from the call to ongoing conversion. Instead, He guarantees the unchanging deposit of faith that has been handed down through the ages. Despite human failings, the Church remains faithful to Jesus Christ. With His guidance, we can embrace the Good News in the context of our own day, while ensuring our gaze is ever fixed on the future. By dwelling within the eternal current of the Father’s and the Son’s love, we deepen our discipleship and grow closer to the Divine Master. In doing so, we testify to a faith that acts in this world through love.

Our solemn duty is to heed the voice of the Holy Spirit – Lord and Giver of Life – again and again.

Come, Holy Spirit, grant us the grace to love in the power of Your Spirit.