Proclaiming the Word of God, receiving the Holy Spirit, sacrificing for what is good: Scripture for this week presents some of the great themes of Christian life.

Jesus offers his followers the promise of a rare gift at the Last Supper: a Spirit of Truth. But what is truth? Most of us are a little hard on the Roman governor of Palestine when he asks this question of Jesus during his trial.

“If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you. I will talk to the Father, and he’ll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth.

A 90-year-old World War II veteran is arrested and charged for giving a sandwich to a homeless man on the street because a new law said it’s all right to feed them through an institution, but not personally, so that it became nearly impossible for a “Good Samaritan” to publicly provide meals for the homeless.

Jesus is the resurrection and the life. We turn to him for the forgiveness that brings new life.

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.