The Holy Spirit, My Defender: John 14:15-16, 23-26

When I was in the first grade, my older sister was in the sixth grade at the same Primary School. She was an influential and confident individual among her peers, and that gave me assurance of the protection she provided for me as her baby brother. Every day during our lunch break, I visited my sister's classroom where she paraded me among her friends. I received all the smiles, squeezing of my cheeks, hugs, novelties and favours. However, the follow year my sister graduated and went to a High School, and I felt all alone. I had an older brother who attended the same school and was two grades ahead of me, but I did not get the same feeling of being protected as my sister provided. Whenever I had complaints, my brother simply said, "just deal with it kiddo."

Then when I became an adult with a family, I developed the desire to provide and protect my loved ones. My mantra was: “You mess with my family; you're messing with me.” Yet as time goes by, I learned that life has a way of throwing up situations that my protective methods were incapable of handling. Sickness and other painful circumstances could not be resolved by my methods. That means I was incapable of solving all of my family's problems. My sincere desires do not fix the problems, and neither will yours. We will be confronted with circumstances beyond our abilities to fix or resolve. I had no plans in place for cancer, heart attack, divorce, accidents, and even death. So how do we protect and care for ourselves and loved ones in the face of the inevitable? How do we proactively build a protective fortress against the unknown?

Our Gospel today gives us some insight on how we can face dire circumstances and still maintain our peace, sanity, and joy. In John 14:15-16, Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you." Jesus made it clear that our obedience to His commands is the proof of our love towards Him. Yet He did not stop there. He also said he will ask the Father, and the Father will give us another Advocate to help us and to be with us. The word Advocate, in Greek is Parakletos, which signifies a Comforter, Counselor, or Helper. It is also defined as: “one who pleads another’s cause, or a person that defends or argues in favor of another”.

My sister had graduated and left me on my own. And sometimes as an adult, I am not in a position to help, provide for, or protect my loved ones. I do not have the ability to protect them from the unknown. Nonetheless, our Advocate can. Therefore, we should strive to build and nurture our relationship with Him. Unlike my sister when I was a child, the Holy Spirit will never graduate from our lives. He will be with us forever, and He has the power to protect, provide, and comfort us. So, let’s take heed of Jesus's words. If we love Him, let us obey His commands and enjoy the presence of our Advocate, the Holy Spirit. Only He can make the difference we desire.

R.G.  08/06/25

Image: pixabay.com 

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