ADVOCATES

ADVOCATES – 6th Sunday of Easter, Year C

            The disciples of Jesus need to be familiar with the Advocate and the works and gifts of the Advocate in our personal lives and the life of the whole Church. Advocate is a word which means “one who walks with you”. There are two advocates identified in the New Testament. The first one is Jesus, who walked along with the disciples and did extraordinary works in the lives of those with Him. Toward the end of His earthly life, Jesus told the disciples He was going to send another advocate to the disciples. The other Advocate, or Paraclete, would do for the disciples of every age what Jesus had done for the disciples in the time of His earthly ministry and even more.

            Jesus identified the second Advocate at the Last Supper. “This much have I told you while I was still with you; the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you in everything and remind you of all that I told you.” The Holy Spirit is the other Advocate. The Holy Spirit is always present with the Church and the disciples. This is true even if the disciples are not always aware or conscious of the Holy Spirit’s presence, or follow the inspirations of the Advocate.

            The major work of the Holy Spirit is to reveal to us who Jesus is. The major work of Jesus was to reveal to us the Father. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, helps us to understand the mysteries of faith and the teachings of Jesus, and to have the power to live and proclaim the teachings to others. By the Spirit, the Church is empowered to do the works of Christ, and to continue until the work of the reign of God on earth is completed. The invisible Holy Spirit walks with and leads the Church down through the ages. The Holy Spirit makes present the Risen Jesus and unites the disciples to Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the soul and life giving source of the Church Body of Christ.

            The Church relies on the Spirit for all its power to bring the death and resurrection of Jesus’ saving power and life to us in the Word and in the Sacraments, the Signs of the Church. All the Sacraments of the Church, which continue the saving actions of Jesus, acknowledge the work of the Spirit. In Baptism the Spirit comes and gives life; in Confirmation, power; in the Eucharist nourishment on the Living Bread; in Reconciliation/Penance, forgiveness and healing of sin; in Anointing, healing; in Holy Orders Christ’s authority to act in His name; in Marriage to unite the couple to Christ and one another. The Advocate/Spirit is teacher, healer, empowerment, forgiver, and life giver. The Spirit is equal to Jesus and the Father. Without the Spirit, we can’t be in union with the Risen Lord.

            The age of the Church is the age of the Spirit. The Spirit “takes over” at the Ascension of Jesus into glory, and as His successor, will complete His work on earth through the Church. When that work is completed, the invisible Jesus made present all the time by the Spirit, will come in a spiritually visible way again. When and how we do not know. The individual disciples and the Church do well to listen and follow the Spirit. The early disciples were very much aware of the presence of the Spirit. Down through the ages, and in our own day, many are also aware of the presence of the Spirit.

            We learn in the Acts of the Apostles how the Church co-operated with the Spirit in arriving at truth and practices. In the important question of the keeping of the Mosaic Law, the Spirit spoke through the leaders, the Apostles and elders. “It is the decision of the Holy Spirit, and of us…” The Church down through the ages is promised the presence of the Risen Jesus by the Spirit. Each disciple is called to be open to the Spirit’s presence in prayer. It’s easier to “hear” the Spirit on deeper levels when we are following closely the clear teachings of Jesus. “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.”

            The Spirit walks with us. When we walk more consciously with the Spirit, we see more deeply into the mysteries of Christ and His reign, and share more fully in His mission. Always walk with the Advocate! We will never be unduly troubled with the Advocate.

Reflection from Divine Mercy - #134

“Oh, how good it is to abandon oneself totally to God, and to give Him full freedom to act in one’s soul!”