Gospel Reflection on John 16:12-15

June 15, 2025

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you."

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We live in a very complicated world. Many different voices telling us what to do to be a success, what to do to have a prosperous life, what to do to avoid disasters. These voices come at us from TV, from movies every time we go shopping. In many ways, our world is not that different from the world our humans lived in. They believe there are many gods, and we needed to make all of them happy, sacrificed to this god for the crops, to this god for a healthy child, to this god for protection in a storm.

The world they lived in for thousands of years was just a gods, different voices, different promises. Until it became clear to Israel that there is only one God, that this one God didn't protect them from life's dangers and life's sufferings and disappointments.

That is until this one God took our flesh, walked our power, and showed us how our story is going to end. Jesus promised the spirit of truth will guide us to all truth. You might think this refers to prophecies about the future, but in fact, it is something else.

If our hearts are open to the guidance of the Spirit, we will slowly be brought into the whole truth. Who is God? Himself. In all the events of our life in church, outside of church, the Spirit is bringing us day by day into the very intimate part of Christ and the Father. You may not realize that that all of us are in a relationship with the future.

We should have a better way of thinking about what is to come. If I believe my future is a black sky without stars, I live in an oppressed frame of mind, and everything seems distressing. If I believe that my tomorrow is in the hands of a good Father who provides for me, then I already know what is coming towards me. The designs of a loving providence are unfolding around me. We know where our path leads and who is guiding our life.

We need, on this feast of Trinity, learn the art of allowing the Spirit to announce the future to us rather than being led by the world's deceptive promises. We know our future. We know where our life is headed. Jesus is showing us the way, and the Spirit is guiding us into the heart of the Father.