By Richard Charles Ofou
(Charles Lwanga Jnr)

(John 14: 23-29, Acts 15: 1-2, 22-29, Revelation 21: 10-14, 22-23)

But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (John 14:26).

My dear brethren in Christ, may the Peace and Love of Christ be with you. Today being the sixth Sunday of the period of the Easter Celebration, Christ who is our Lord and Shepherd reassures us of His continuous Divine presence, ensuring that we maintain standards of Heaven even in a complicated and compromised world because we have a Witness in our soul that will remind us of all He has taught us that we may not miss the mark.

Today, our reflection will be chiefly based on the Gospel of John (John 14: 23-29), where Christ makes everything open in a three phase statement of the continuation of the work of Salvation bestowed on us, but that we are not alone in this. He is with us, in us, in our soul.

The reflection will be split into three parts. The first part where Christ reminds us that if we indeed love Him and have accepted to be part of His community, then, we must obey Him not just because He is our Lord, but the Words which He speaks is not just His, but the Father’s (God) and they shall dwell in him (John 14: 23-24).

The second part which forms the theme of today’s reflection went further to point of the nature of the indwelling mentioned in the first part. The Holy Spirit which is the third Person of the Trinity will be the form through which God dwells in us not just to live in us, but to remind us all that has been taught, bearing witness in our soul not just of truth but the need to continue the work of salvation which the Lord has placed in our care (John 14:26).

And finally, the third part presents before the assurance of security even in a world of chaos because the Lord did not just give us peace but has left His peace for us, peace in our soul, peace of mind that we might be at rest for He is with us. However, it will be important that He leaves the physical world in order to dwell in us in union with the Father who is the greatest. So, even when we do not see Him physically,
He is there. (John 14:27-29).

In the first part, which was a response to the question asked by one of the apostles, Jude Thaddeus, said to be a cousin of our Lord, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?” (John 14:22).

Christ in response to him, reminds us that love is essential to being part of Him and His community. It entails obedience to His instruction and disobedience is as good as rejection. When we love Christ and obey Him, we become part of His community, then He and the Father come to dwell in us, and they shall enlighten us because in that community we will certainly not need lamplight or the sun for His glory is its light (Revelation 21: 23).
Which implies that we live an illumined life, devoid of every form of darkness, in clarity of thoughts and ideas.

This community of Christ is that which is revealed in Revelation 21: 10-14, 22-23: a new Jerusalem, structured with walls and gates, which symbolizes security and community. While the gates are open, signifying accessibility and inclusivity, the foundations are described as precious stones, representing the foundation of the church on Christ and His teachings.

The absence of a temple, as the Lord God and the Lamb are the temple, and the city’s illumination by the glory of God and the Lamb, signify the absence of darkness and the constant presence of God.

In the second part, we see Christ continue to reveal to us the form or the nature of the indwelling, it is one that encompasses the presence of the Trinity. The presence of the Holy Spirit as our helper and counsellor is the presence of the Holy Trinity (the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit).

The dwelling of the Holy Spirit in us is to teach, enlighten and remind us of everything we have learnt through the ministry of the Church and bear witness in our soul that we are Christ’s (Romans 8:16). The Spirit aids us in our daily living to live in conformity to the community built on trust and love for Christ by the Apostles.

This is shown in the experience of the early church, (Acts 15: 1-2, 22-29) where the disciples had a little challenge in doctrinal issues and had to resort to the Holy Spirit through the apostolic church in reaching a more refined conclusion. While Christ was on earth, He made no distinction between the two (Jews or Gentiles, Holy or Sinner: Matthew 15: 21-28, Luke 7: 1-10) but reached out to all, bearing the message of salvation to all and expressing God’s love and compassion. Hence, this forms a pillar of our relation with one another and in the evangelical mission of the Church bringing the Goodnews of salvation to all, irrespective of the social status and tribal affiliation of the person.

Finally, is the message of peace. Christ knowing full well the emotional and psychological effect of His physical absence in the midst of His apostles gave them a great gift, the gift of peace (John 14:27). It is not peace that shows the absence of physical pain but a peace that brings serenity and calmness even in the midst of the storm (Matthew 8: 23 – 27). Peace (of mind and soul) is a sign of God’s presence, validating his authority and omnipotent nature. So, it was necessary for Christ to give His apostles such a gift to keep them together while He returns to them in the form of the Holy Ghost.

The same, He has given to us that even in a world filled with chaos, we are to find peace in Christ.

My dear brethren in Christ, the place of the Holy Spirit in our journey of life is very necessary to navigate through life because the world will pose us with situations that are beyond our human wisdom and understanding, where you begin to doubt your faith and the ability of God. A world of complexities, beliefs and doctrines, reclining to the self, advocating for false freedom (freedom without responsibility and accountability), a world where man becomes the creator and the creature, how then can we sustain or maintain the authenticity of that which we have received without compromise?

How can we sustain the community of Christ (the Church) without defilement; the HOLY SPIRIT. We must continue to bear in mind the main focus of our Christian vocation, to continue in the work of Salvation (bringing all men to Christ and Christ to all men) in everything we do having God’s love and compassion as its base.

In a much complex and compromised world of today, the ever presence of the Holy Spirit is needed to constantly bear Witness in our soul that we are Christ’s.

May the Peace and Love of God that surpasses all understanding rest and abide in your hearts. Amen.

(Published by The Southerner on Sunday, May 25, 2025)