Monday, March 19

Advocate

Narrative Lectionary Daily Devotions written by Kace Leetch from Clergy Stuff.

Jesus knew he was leaving soon. But he also knew he wasn't abandoning his followers to a cold world without backup. He let them know, even before he died, that they would have an advocate -- the Spirit of truth. The Holy Spirit would remain to guide them, to give them strength, and to bind them together. 

I have a son, a young adult, that has recently moved into his own apartment. He is doing well, but sometimes “adulting" seems just a little much for him. As it should. He's barely 21. I offer to help, but he's reluctant to accept it. He thinks growing up means being independent, and that being independent means going it alone. But that's not how we're wired. God created us to live in community, interdependent on one another. And Jesus shaped us to live in communion with God, interdependent on the creator, redeemer, and advocate. Sometimes “adulting" means not going it alone. Often growing up means relying on the people around us, and the Holy Spirit within us.

Narrative Lectionary Text: John 14:15-31

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

“I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

“I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

“You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me; but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us be on our way."