In today’s Gospel, Jesus consoles the disciples with the promise of an Advocate—the Holy Spirit. His words, “it is better for you that I go,” must have been so confusing, almost startling for those beholding the Son of God. What could be better than having Jesus in your midst? Only, I suppose, having God in your heart. In the Holy Spirit, God dwells not just among us but within, even with the gift of hindsight, that is still an incredible reality to ponder.
Pondering the role of a human advocate may give us a deeper insight into our Heavenly Advocate. As we draw closer to Pentecost, not only understanding but also inviting the Holy Spirit into your life strengthens our faith and relationship with God. Here are three ways an advocate serves. Can you translate this into all the miraculous ways the Holy Spirit moves in your life?
An advocate can be a support to those who feel they are not being heard. In Romans 8:26, St. Paul teaches one of the incredible truths of how the Spirit works as a support in assuring God hears our prayers:
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.”
Even when we are at a loss on how to pray, the Holy Spirit perfects those fears, doubts, desires nestled so deep in our soul, we have no words and brings them to the Father for us.
An advocate ensures a person has the tools to make an informed decision. In our Confirmations, we receive an outpouring of gifts to guide our Christian life. The gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord each provide the guidance we need to be responsive to the will of God in our lives. The grace from living in the Spirit opens our hearts to choose good, desire what the Father desires for us, even if not done perfectly, the devoted Advocate adequately equips us.
Jesus lays clear the Advocates work in our world, “And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation: sin, because they do not believe in me; righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.” How often has the Holy Spirit convicted our behavior, thoughts, or even lack of action? How we respond indicates how willing we are to allow this Wonderful Counselor into our hearts.
Wondering how you are doing allowing the Paraclete, translated into helper, into your life? Once again, we can turn to St. Paul, who offers how one measures the extent they’ve allowed the Spirit into their lives. The fruit of living in the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5: 22-23). This incredible life, Jesus promises with the Advocate, is just a simple prayer away, “Come, Holy Spirit.”
Allison Gingras works for WINE: Women In the New Evangelization as National WINE Steward of the Virtual Vineyard. She is a Social Media Consultant for the Diocese of Fall River and CatholicMom.com. She is a writer, speaker, and podcaster, who founded ReconciledToYou.com and developed the Stay Connected Journals for Catholic Women (OSV).
Feature Image Credit: jplenio, https://pixabay.com/photos/sunset-sun-dawn-cloud-dusk-city-3133500/
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