“I will send you an Advocate”
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus senses the Apostles’ distress over his upcoming departure from the world and His Passion, death, and resurrection. He gives them great hope and comfort that He will not leave them alone. He promises to send the Advocate, the one who would give peace and truth.
What did Jesus mean by “an advocate”? Jesus meant The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God in the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity. Another translation that is used sometimes is “the Paraclete” which in Greek means “he who is called to one’s side.” [1]
What is an advocate? In our society, an advocate is someone who is willing to step up and speak out in support of a cause or policy. For example, we can be advocates for the Pro-Life movement. We can advocate for the millions of unborn children who are in danger of abortion and do not have a voice to cry out. The Holy Spirit is our Advocate who strengthens and pleads our cause to God the Father when we call Him to our side. Jesus Christ was our first Advocate. In the letter of Saint John, he writes “[Christ] our Advocate with the Father.” [2] “Christ is our advocate who defends the cause of Christian believers against their accuser, the devil.” [3]
How does the Holy Spirit advocate for us? The Holy Spirit is the Advocate for the Mystical Body, the Church and its members. He pleads God’s cause for the human family, keeping the Church from error, sanctifying souls through the preaching of God’s word and through the sacraments. [4]
Discuss a time the Holy Spirit acted as an advocate in your life.
What does “proceed from the Father and Son” mean? The Holy Spirit proceeds, not by way of being generated, but by way of spiration, from the Father and the Son together, as from a single principle.[5] There are two main truths we can gather from that fact. First, that the Holy Spirit is a Person truly distinct from the Father and the Son. Secondly, that the Holy Spirit is God, consubstantial (with the same substance) with the Father and the Son.
Why does Jesus call the Holy Spirit “Spirit of Truth”? Jesus uses this term a little later in reference to the Holy Spirit. Jesus calls the Holy Spirit the “Spirit of Truth” because He guides the Church in all Truth of God because He is God Himself. He will come to the aid of those that defend the Church and those who seek to find the Truth and call upon the Holy Spirit.
Why can’t the world accept the Holy Spirit? The world did not accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God. The rejection of God by the world has been a constant since the very beginning of human history. When we speak of ‘the world,’ we mean those people who choose to follow the temptations of earthly things and neglect the things of God’s Kingdom. At times, the Israelites failed to accept God as Father. The Jews failed to accept Jesus as the Son of God. Now Christ is telling us the Holy Spirit will be treated no differently. He will not be accepted because “the Spirit will be visible…only to the eye of faith.” [6]
What is the Holy Spirit’s role and responsibility? The Holy Spirit’s role and function “…is to teach, bear witness, and ‘to convince the world of sin,’ The Holy Spirit is the love of God producing the effects of divine grace on earth. [7]
Where else do we see the Holy Spirit? “We see the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures He inspired; in the Tradition, to which the Church Fathers are the witnesses; in the Magisterium [Pope and Bishops] which He assists; in the sacramental liturgy, through its words and symbols, in which the Holy Spirit puts us into communion with Christ; in prayer, where he intercedes for us; in the apostolic and missionary life; in witness of saints through whom he manifests his holiness and continues the work of salvation.” [8] It is also by the power of the Holy Spirit that the greatest of Divine mysteries is accomplished, the Incarnation of the Word. “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.” [9]
Activity – List as many symbols for the Holy Spirit as possible
In today’s Gospel reading, we read of two titles that were given for the Holy Spirit; The Advocate and Spirit of Truth. There are other titles of the Holy Spirit. The proper name is “Holy Spirit.” The Church has received it from the Lord who is united with the Spirit. The title, Holy Spirit, was used throughout the Acts of the Apostles, but Saint Paul and Saint Peter had other titles for the Holy Spirit. If you have enough people you can separate them into four groups. Have one group look in 1 Peter, have group 2 look in Romans, have group 3 look in 1st and 2nd Corinthians, and have group 4 look in Galatians and Ephesians. If you are crunched for time you can also hand out strips of paper with the verse written on them and have them race to find them. Once they have found them, discuss the meaning of each title given to the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit of the Promise (Gal 3:14; Eph 1:13) The Holy Spirit is the one Jesus had promised to the Apostles and all of us.
The Spirit of Adoption (Romans 8:15) In today’s Gospel, Jesus said he would not let us become orphans. The Holy Spirit has adopted us and cares for us.
The Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9) The Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ are inseparable. “When the Father sends his Word, he always sends his Breath…To be sure, it is Christ who is seen, the visible image of the invisible God, but it is the Spirit who reveals him.” [10]
The Spirit of the Lord (2 Cor. 3:17) Another name for Jesus Christ is Lord. You may refer to the previous “The Spirit of Christ”
Spirit of God (Rom 8:9, 14; 15:19; 1 Cor 6:11; 7:40) The Holy Spirit is the spirit of God because He is God! The spirit of God comprehends the thoughts of God and expresses them, but He does not speak of himself. This is why in the Nicene Creed we say, “He has spoken through the prophets.” [11]
Spirit of Glory (1 Peter 4:14) The Holy Spirit brings us the Glory of God by His divine assistance and intervention. He inspired the Apostles and inspires us to understand and preach the Glory of God.
[1] CCC 692
[2] 1 John 2:1
[3] The Modern Catholic Dictionary pg. 14
[4] Modern Catholic Dictionary pg. 402
[5] http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07409a.htm
[6] The Jerome Biblical Commentary 63:145, 17
[7] Modern Catholic Dictionary pg. 402
[8] CCC 688
[9] Luke 1:35
[10] CCC 689
[11] Nicene Creed, par 465