The Church's Liturgy of the Word in the weeks between Easter and Pentecost, we read or hear Gospel messages in which Jesus Christ addresses the faithful with very consoling words. Those who would otherwise be discouraged or disillusioned by the fact of his death on the cross and physical departure from the world are encouraged to hold on firmly to their faith in the one who is risen, the one who has conquered, the one who will remain permanently with his followers to guarantee their security, peace, victory and abundant life. When he appeared to his disciples at various locations after the resurrection, he always spoke to them the cheering words: "Peace be with you," "Do not be afraid."

In the passage of John 20:19-28, Jesus repeated the words "peace be with you" three times. In John 14:27-28 Jesus went further to say, "Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid." In John 14:18 which is today's alleluia verse, he says "I will not leave you as orphans. I will come back to you, and your hearts will rejoice." He promised to send us his Holy Spirit, the Advocate, the Paraclete, the Comforter, the Defender, the Spirit of Truth who will lead us to all Truth. Also in Matthew 28:19-20 he assures his followers that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him. He therefore commissioned them to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And then he said "Look, I am with you always; yes, to the end of time." In Acts 1:8 we hear that just before he ascended to the Father, he told the disciples gathered at the outskirts of Jerusalem: "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and then you shall be my witnesses, not only in Jerusalem, but in Judea and Samaria, and indeed through all the world."

As we await our own new Pentecost, when we shall be strengthened, invigorated, enlightened, comforted, defended; as we await the outpouring of the Spirit anew over us in a short while, we already have a glimpse in Acts Chapter 7, of the power of the Spirit at work in Stephen, the first martyr of the Church. We see in Stephen the faith, courage, perseverance and generosity of heart of one who is filled with the Holy Spirit. Even in the face of persecution and imminent execution, he witnessed boldly to the truth of the risen Christ who sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven. And as he was dying in pain at the hands of his callous executioners, he uttered the same gracious words of forgiveness which Jesus Christ spoke from the cross: "Lord do not hold these sins against them."

In Revelations 22, John the seer has a privileged vision of heaven, and hears the Spirit and the Bride say "come". All who are thirsty should come and have the water of life free of charge. John reminds the faithful of the promise of the Lord to be with us soon, so he enjoins us repeat the chorus, "Amen, Come Lord Jesus." So let all who are hungry and thirsty, all who are humiliated by acute poverty or afflicted by diseases and sicknesses, let them say with John the beloved disciples, "Amen, Come Lord Jesus." Let all who have laboured and are overburdened with sorrow and failure who believe in Jesus Christ, say with faith in the victorious one, "Amen, come Lord Jesus." Let all who have toiled all night like Peter and his companions at the Sea of Tiberiaand caught nothing, all who are unemployed, all who have recently lost their jobs, all whose businesses and careers have failed, but who still put their trust in Christ, let them say with the hope that does not disappoint, "Amen, Come Lord Jesus."

Let all who are suffering the pain and embarrassment of childlessness or problem children, who cling to the words of Jesus Christ, let them say with John the beloved disciple, "Amen, Come Lord Jesus." Let all who are suffering at the hands of unfaithful spouses, all who suffer at the hands of abusive husbands or nagging wives, who keep struggling to keep a date with their marriage covenant, holding on to the words of Jesus that what God has joined together no one may put asunder, let them say with confidence in divine providence, "Amen, Come Lord Jesus." Let all the young women whose time has come to get married and to raise families of their own, but who have not found their partners, let all the believers among them who are waiting on the Lord, say with expectant faith, "Amen, Come Lord Jesus." Let all who are victims of armed robbery, of hired assassinations, of political bigotry or religious fanaticism say with faith, "Amen, Come Lord Jesus." Let all who are suffering the most for their hunger for truth and their thirst for justice, all those oppressed, persecuted or discriminated against in our land, who nevertheless believe in the justification of Christ, let them say with the courage of the Christian disciples, "Amen, come lord Jesus." Let all who suffer today but who believe in the life beyond Calvary, say with the conviction of ultimate victory, "Amen, come Lord Jesus."

The mystery of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, is the mystery of God's tremendous love. St. John writes that God loves the world so much that he sent his only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). In the words of St. Paul, this is the proof of God's immense love, "that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Christ preached repentance from sin out of love for humanity - that we may not reap the consequence of sin, which is death. He preached repentance so that we may be converted and come to share in the glorious company of the Triune God. Out of the same love and compassion Christ healed the sick and expelled demons from those afflicted, who have suffered at the hands of Satan. Inspired by the same love, Christ taught with passion, spending himself out with long hours of instruction so as to show the way to the ignorant and distressed crowds that are like sheep without shepherd. He assured all those who followed him of His own love and the love of the Father. He went as far as to say that the Father and himself shall come and dwell with those who love him and keep his commandments. He also promised to ask the Father to send another Advocate, the Holy Spirit to be with his disciples always.

It is because of this divine companionship which Jesus promised that Christians can go around the world like princes and princesses. Even in times of tribulation, in times of distress or persecution, they can hold their heads high and move around in freedom like victors and conquerors, because they know that the triumphant Christ is constantly interceding for them. In times of trouble Christians should take seriously and pray over the words of Jesus in Luke 22:28 that "When all these things begin to happen, stand erect, hold your heads high, for your liberation is near at hand," or John 16:33 where he says that "In the world you will face all sorts of trouble, but do not be afraid, for I have overcome the world." Like the first century Christians therefore, persecuted Christians or those who are faced with the challenge of witnessing to the truth, justice and holiness of Christ in an environment of widespread injustice and corruption should make their own the most popular prayer of the early Church: "Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus!"