A theme that connects our Gospel and first reading today is ‘waiting on the Holy Spirit’.  The Samaritans visited by St Philip had heard of the message of Christ but were baptised only in the name of Jesus rather than the Holy Trinity, so he lays hands on them and they now receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  In the Gospel Our Lord promises the disciples, gathered at the Last Supper, that the Father will send them the Spirit of Truth.  Even after he ascends into heaven he will be with them in a new way through this unseen presence of the Spirit.  He refers to the Holy Spirit as ‘Helper’ in the English Standard Version we now use at Mass..  There is no one word that adequately conveys what the Greek ‘Paraclete’ means.  Literally it is someone ‘called to stand alongside’.  In a courtroom context it means ‘advocate’ – someone who speaks out for another.  In a less formal context it means it means ‘friend’ or ‘comforter’.  Both of these images suggest that the Holy Spirit is outside of us but Our Lord’s gift is greater even than this.  He comes not just to stand alongside us but to dwell within us, to speak out and accomplish God’s work through us.  We have received this wonderful gift of God’s presence on the day of our baptism, renewed and strengthened at confirmation.  As we approach the feasts of the Ascension and Pentecost let us reflect on the presence of the Holy Spirit in our own lives and in particular ask him to deepen our relationship with God in prayer.