If I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you

On Thursday the Seventh Week of Easter our Church invites us to first read and reflect on a passage from the first letter of the apostle John (5:13-21) entitled "Prayer for sinners". Our treasure, which follows, is from a commentary on the gospel of John by Saint Cyril of Alexandria, bishop. Saint Cyril was born in 370 and lived a monastic life. He was ordained a priest and succeeded his uncle as bishop of Alexandria where he served from 412 to 444. He was enthroned when the city was at the height of its influence and power within the Roman Empire. He had a preeminent role at the Council of Ephesus; he fought bravely against the doctrines of Nestorius, and wrote many learned works explaining and defending the Catholic faith. Saint Cyril is best known for defending the truth that Jesus Christ is one divine Person with both a fully human and fully divine nature, and for strongly upholding that Mary is rightly called Theotokos ("God-bearer"). He played a central role at the Council of Ephesus, where this teaching was affirmed against error. His legacy is his clear defense of the unity of Christ and the truth of the Incarnation, which remains essential to Catholic belief. Saint Cyril is counted among the Church Fathers and also as a Doctor of the Church. His reputation within the Christian world has resulted in his titles, "Pillar of Faith" and "Seal of all the Fathers". Cyril died in 444. In today's "treasure" Saint Cyril teaches that Jesus' departure through His death, resurrection, and ascension was necessary so that the Holy Spirit—the Comforter—could come to dwell fully within believers. Cyril explains that while Christ was physically present with His disciples during His earthly life, after His glorification He would be spiritually present everywhere through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit unites believers to Christ, strengthens them in faith, transforms them interiorly, and enables them to share in the divine life. In this way, Christ's "going away" was not a loss, but the beginning of a deeper and more universal communion between God and His people. In our first reading John teaches Christians to live with confident faith in Jesus Christ, trusting that eternal life has already been given to those who believe in the Son of God. Saint John encourages believers to pray for those who fall into sin, showing that Christian life includes loving concern for the spiritual well-being of others. He also reminds the faithful to stay close to God, avoid the influence of evil, and reject idols—anything that takes God's rightful place in the heart. The central message is that believers should live with confidence in God's life and truth, pray for one another, and remain faithful to Christ.