In today’s Gospel Jesus promises to send “the Advocate,” that is the holy Spirit. The Greek word John used here is Parakletos (Paraclete). Sometimes this Greek word is translated as Advocate as here but elsewhere as Comforter. Jesus also refers to himself as an Advocate: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth,” (14:16-17). In the letter of John Jesus is also called an Advocate: “My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one” (1 John 2:1). In this passage Jesus is pictured as an intercessor or even a defense attorney. In today’s Gospel the role of the holy Spirit as Advocate is to witness to Jesus by both strengthening and comforting the community and helping them to come to a deeper understanding of Jesus. The holy Spirit is the divine presence with the community after Jesus has returned to heaven:
“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.” (14:25-26).
Jesus promises that the holy Spirit will remind the community of his teachings and also teach them deeper meaning of his teachings. This Spirit or Advocate continues today to guide and challenge us to be faithful followers of Jesus and his teachings and his way. The Spirit not only testifies to Jesus but challenges us also to testify to Jesus:
“When the Advocate comes whom, I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.”
Through baptism and confirmation each of us has the gift of the holy Spirit. The Spirit empowers us to testify to Jesus by our words and actions.
Image: “Pentecost: the Holy Spirit descends upon the apostles” is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.