the e-Testament
John 14: 15-21
The Spirit of Truth
“If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you. I will talk to the Father, and he’ll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can’t take him in because it doesn’t have eyes to see him, doesn’t know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!
“I will not leave you orphaned. I’m coming back. In just a little while the world will no longer see me, but you’re going to see me because I am alive and you’re about to come alive. At that moment you will know absolutely that I’m in my Father, and you’re in me, and I’m in you.
“The person who knows my commandments and keeps them, that’s who loves me. And the person who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and make myself plain to him.”
Reflection
It doesn’t matter how old we get or how independent we are, there will always be times when, at least on the inside, we feel just like orphaned children.
There are always times when we need someone to be a really good friend. Someone who will comfort us; remind us that even if we’ve made a huge mistake, they’re still there for us; give us good advice without taking over or getting bossy; someone who will stand up for us if we’re not able to do that for ourselves.
That’s the kind of friend Jesus promised the disciples – and us. That’s the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, who will always be with us if we make a place for him in our hearts.
These words of Jesus tell us to show our love for him by living out what he taught us, and that when we do that, we are locked into the Trinity: loved by God the Father, with Jesus and the Holy Spirit within us.
Clare Lewis
Salesian Communications Worker
Prayer
Holy Spirit,
Come into my heart.
Fill me with your gifts, and help me to use them well.
Give me comfort when I’m alone
and courage when I’m afraid;
Guide me to the right path when the truth’s hard to see;
Give me wisdom when I need to make choices;
Keep faith and love alive in me always.
Amen