"The disciples could not but be filled with joy and the Holy Spirit."  This final line of today's Gospel tells us a lot about discipleship, the Easter season, and the community of faith (the "Body of Christ") into which we have been inserted and from which we are sent.

First of all, discipleship.  What is it, really, to be a disciple of Jesus?  We are clearly invited by the Word of God today to reflect on that.  All three readings give us some clues, some pointers, some characteristics of this discipleship.  In the first reading, Paul and Barnabas experience what we will all experience if we try to follow Jesus.  The Word of God always pushes at present boundaries, resists any exclusion, and calls us beyond our present understanding of salvation to the one that Jesus embraced:  "All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God." (Today's Psalm).  But this reaching outward will always lead to persecution, usually -- and that is the painful part!--by those who think of themselves as disciples!  Just as Jesus came into trouble with the religious authorities of his own time, those who strictly interpreted the Mosaic laws and traditions, so we too will experience persecution to the extent that we heed the words and follow the example of Jesus.

Secondly, the Easter season.  The season of joy in the Holy Spirit.  The invitation to celebrate, rejoice over, and practice resurrection.  We rejoice, above all, that Jesus has gone to the Father, and from that position He is totally present to us and for us.  What does that mean for us?  Clearly stated in the Gospel for today:  His disciples CAN DO THE WORKS HE DID AND EVEN GREATER WORKS, and WHATEVER WE ASK IN JESUS' NAME WILL BE DONE THROUGH HIM.  How can we not be filled with joy and the Holy Spirit with such a promise?

Finally, the community of faith, which is a community (or communion) of disciples.  Jesus makes it clear to Philip that just as He revealed God to His followers by His words, actions and death/Resurrection, so now the community of those who believe in Him  continues to do this.  "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."  That is the central purpose, the mission, the very being of the Church.  Given this time of betrayal and scandal, we would all do well to recall the myriad ways our Church does "show us the Father," how we can help the healing and purification of our community, and together ask God in Jesus' name to strengthen us in our confidence in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.