
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 15:26-16:4a
Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.
“I have told you this so that you may not fall away. They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God. They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me. I have told you this so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you.”
REFLECTION: “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning."
I could barely see her as we drove away. My tears kept getting in the way and by the time we turned the corner, she was gone from sight. As we left our daughter at her freshman dorm, I prayed that she would continue to be the person who had grown in the love of God. Drugs, alcohol, poor judgment and free sex would all be there for her the moment we left. Before she was born, I had entrusted her to my two best friends—Mother Mary and the Holy Spirit. After all these years, I was sure they would not leave her alone now.
Jesus calls the Holy Spirit the “Paraclete” or the “Advocate”. He is the best defense attorney. He can convict her gently of sin and help her win in life. He is, after all, the Spirit of Truth. The Spirit tells her, “Be not afraid” of failing, the truth about her sins, her weaknesses, fatigue, loneliness, honesty and long nights of studying. After all, He speaks constantly to her judge who made her and who loves her so much that He died for her.
Fulton J Sheen once said that" love of sin is dislodged by the force of another love". Her Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who is the Love of God, poured into her heart when in high school. She abandoned herself to God who lives in her and would never leave her.
As I spent this past weekend with my daughter, I thank Mother Mary and the Holy Spirit for the love she has for God and for her family. Entrust our children to God who gives us the Advocate. Entrust our children to His mother.
God Bless You.
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