You will never walk alone. Sixth Sunday of Easter (A)

As we approach the great feast of Pentecost, the liturgy gently prepares us for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Today's readings clearly point to his living presence in the Church. As Christ prepares to ascend to the Father, we are reminded of a song that has become famous in the world of soccer: “You will never walk alone.” It expresses something profoundly Christian: we are not abandoned. We do not walk through life alone. We remain in the communion of believers, always accompanied by the Holy Spirit.

In the first reading of the Acts of the Apostles we heard about Philip's apostolic work in Samaria. His preaching of Christ is beautifully summed up in a single phrase: “I am the Lord Jesus Christ.“The city was filled with joy”. This is the sign of an authentic Christian mission. Where Christ is proclaimed and welcomed, joy takes root. The Christian message is not a burden; it is good news. It transforms hearts, families and cities.

Samaria became known as a city full of joy because it welcomed Christ. What about our cities, our communities, our homes, could they be described as places of joy because Christ is welcomed in them, as happened in Samaria? Joy is possible if we let Christ walk beside us in our daily activities.

But Christ does not walk with us in isolation. He walks with us in and through the Church. We see this clearly in the same reading. When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, “sent Peter and John; they went down there and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit.”. These two pillars of the Church did not remain in Jerusalem. They came down to accompany the new community, to pray with them and for them.

In particular, they prayed that the newly baptized would receive the Holy Spirit. This moment is one of the earliest witnesses to what we recognize today as the sacrament of Confirmation, the second sacrament of Christian initiation.

In the Gospel, Jesus makes a promise that gives a deeper meaning to all of this: “And I will ask the Father to give you another Paraclete, who will be with you always, the Spirit of Truth.".

Here Jesus reveals the heart of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit is not simply a force or an abstract presence. He is the advocate, comforter, defender, teacher and companion. The Holy Spirit teaches us truth, strengthens us in weakness and reminds us that we belong to God. He accompanies us in the ordinary rhythm of daily life: at work, in family responsibilities, in moments of misunderstanding, in sickness, in doubt. With the Spirit, even the most ordinary day becomes a place of encounter with Christ.

Jesus tells us in the Gospel that he will not leave us orphans. Christ walks with us. The Church walks with us. The Holy Spirit accompanies us.

We can rephrase the words of that song:

Walk, walk, with Christ in your heart,

and you will never walk alone.

You will never walk alone.