Some persons or events are so important to us that we want them to remain in our memory. And to help us hold on to their remembrance, we keep something that serves to remind us of them. We call it souvenir, or more often, memento. Memento comes from the imperative form of meminisse, a Latin verb for “to remember.” Photos usually serve as mementos of our trip; old articles (weapons, uniforms, badges) are precious mementos of battles fought for the country; and hairs kept in a locket are souvenirs of a loved one. For Catholics, relics of saints are kept as powerful mementos.

We wonder what mementos the disciples had of Jesus after he ascended to heaven. Not so many, probably, as Jesus did not have many possessions. His outer garment was given to the Roman soldier who cast lots for it. But the mementos would be in the form of memories the disciples of Jesus would have of their Master: his powerful acts, his miracles, and his teachings.

More powerful than objects as mementos, Jesus leaves the disciples someone to remind them of him. It is “the Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and remind you all that I told you” (v 26). It is not just a matter of recall; the Holy Spirit will enable the Apostles to have a deeper understanding of the person of Jesus and his mission to save humanity. And under the Spirit’s inspiration, the Apostles would preach the Good News of salvation, which the Evangelists would commit into writing. Precisely because of the action of the Holy Spirit, the Gospels would be written—the most important and living mementos of Jesus Christ.

There was an attempt in Iconium by both the Gentiles and the Jews, together with their leaders, to attack and stone Paul and Barnabas. They realized it, and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding countryside, 7 where they continued to proclaim the Good News.

At Lystra there was a crippled man, lame from birth, who had never walked. He listened to Paul speaking, who looked intently at him, saw that he had the faith to be healed, and called out in a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet.” He jumped up and began to walk about. When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they cried out in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in human form.” They called Barnabas “Zeus” and Paul “Hermes,” because he was the chief speaker. And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, for he together with the people intended to offer sacrifice.

The Apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their garments when they heard this and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, “Men, why are you doing this? We are of the same nature as you, human beings. We proclaim to you good news that you should turn from these idols to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them. In past generations he allowed all Gentiles to go their own ways; yet, in bestowing his goodness, he did not leave himself without witness, for he gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filled you with nourishment and gladness for your hearts.” 18Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.

Jesus said to his disciples: “Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.” Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him, “Master, then what happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me.

“I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.