John 15:26-27,16:12-15
From the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday to the celebration of Pentecost, the Church has marked out a path for us to follow. We have walked in the wilderness with Israelites, fasted in the desert with Jesus, followed him as he taught and worked miracles, we have sat at the table in the Upper Room, fallen asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane, stood in the cold in the courtyard of the High Priest’s house, we have watched from a distance as he drew his last breath on the cross, we have run early in the morning to the tomb, we have had breakfast on the beach in Tiberias and now Jesus stands before us saying:
When the Advocate comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father,
the Spirit of truth who issues from the Father, he will be my witness.
And you too will be witnesses, because you have been with me from the outset.
Jesus promises to send us someone on whom we can call, someone we can call to be at our side. This is the literal meaning of Advocate or Paraclete. When I look back over my faith journey there are many who have been and continue to be people on whom I can call. There are many who have embodied the Spirit and been at my side when I needed them most.
Where in the coming week do you most need the Spirit to be at your side?