Catholic Men’s Daily Devotional and Bible Study – Sixth Week of Easter – Wednesday – John 16:12-15

Christ continues His Farewell Discourse (John 13:31-16:33) in Jerusalem during Holy Week, preparing the Apostles for their mission after His departure. After revealing He is sending the Holy Spirit, Christ reaffirms the Trinity and offers His final teaching on how the Holy Spirit will bless and fortify the men with Christ’s word.

Christ knows the Apostles can not absorb (“can not bear”) everything He could explain to them; they are anxious, can not conceive of Christ’s Passion and have not received the Holy Spirit. Rather than rebuke them, Christ encourages them by again promising He will send the Holy Spirit. The Spirit will guide the Apostles to truth, helping Christ’s Gospel penetrate and reside in their souls, fortifying them against the evil lies of Satan (John 8:44).

Christ reveals the Holy Spirit does not speak on His own authority, but speaks what He is told by the Father and the Son; in speaking the words of the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit glorifies glorifies them. Christ has been given the Gospel by the Father and the Holy Spirit will proclaim Christ’s Gospel without error to the Apostles and men in the future.

Awed by Jesus Christ – Person of the Trinity, Christ has been given the Father’s truth and relies on the Holy Spirit to proclaim His truth after the Ascension. Divine King, Christ knows the limits of His men and supernaturally prepares them through the Holy Spirit. Divine Prophet, Christ will send the Holy Spirit to enlighten and protect the Church at Pentecost.

Being a Heroic Catholic Man

1) Be awed by how Christ knows the state of the Apostles and puts a plan (sending the Holy Spirit) in place to strengthen them and future Catholic men.

2) Christ sends the Holy Spirit to guarantee the Church will not corrupt the Gospel. During Easter, marvel at Christ’s protection of His Church (CCC 767-768, 888-892) and pray for the pope, bishops and priests, deacons and religious to remain faithful to Christ.

3) Like the Apostles, every man needs the Holy Spirit to help them overcome sin and grow in understanding of Christ. During Easter, pray for the Holy Spirit to remove spiritual barriers (weakness, anger, fear, unbelief, lust, sloth, ignorance) and fill you with the Desires of the Spirit (CCC 2541-2543) so that you can draw closer to Christ.

Spiritual Practices – Include in Today’s Prayers

Sacred Mystery of Rosary – The Glorious Mysteries

Daily Devotion – Saint Joseph

Virtue of the Day – Temperance

Corporal Work of Mercy – To visit the imprisoned

Spiritual Work of Mercy – To comfort the sorrowful