The Advocate

Today's Reflections

The Advocate 

http://graceandspace.org

Jn 14:23-29

²³Jesus answered [Judas, not the Iscariot] 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. ²⁴Whoever 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.

²⁵“I have told you this while I am with you. ²⁶The 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. ²⁷Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. ²⁸You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. ²⁹And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe.”

Reflection:

Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. This is a Gospel of beautiful promises. The first promise is God’s love and indwelling in those who love and obey Jesus. Jesus makes clear again that true love for him is shown by deeds: “Whoever loves me will keep my word.” Jesus’ word that we must keep is his command that we love one another as he has loved us. The reward is practically a taste of heaven on earth, because Jesus promises to one who loves him and keeps his words that “my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.” The Father and the Son, and their Spirit will live in us if we obey the command of Jesus and live in mutual love! Indeed, there is nothing closer to heaven on earth than the experience of living in love together in obedience to Jesus’ command of love.

Next, Jesus promises the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, whom the Father will send in Jesus’ name. The Advocate will teach the disciples everything that the Lord Jesus has told them. He will make them understand what Jesus has not been able to make them understand.

The third promise is peace, a peace that is not simply the absence of trouble but the inner harmony that comes from having a right relationship with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit who live in us. This peace we can have even in the face of suffering and death.

Trust in the promises of Jesus

and you will have peace!