Come Holy Spirit

‘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 for ever. 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.

- John 14:15-31

Powerful words with much to say are the things that Jesus speaks as he prepares to physically leave his disciples. It is no longer a time when they can take comfort in his physical presence around them. It is a time when he is going out of the world - but yet not out of the world. He is sending his spirit - the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, the Advocate. Jesus will ask his Father and the Father will send this Spirit of truth - so that all may be revealed to the apostles and that he and the Father may dwell with them. Ultimately, in this speech, all goes back to the Father and all is done so that human beings can experience this dwelling together even with the Father and in the love of the Father, Son and Spirit.

It's important to remember this gift of the Spirit, and that Jesus' words tell us that not only the Spirit, the Advocate, the Spirit of truth, will dwell within us but that Father, Son and Spirit make their homes with us - if we love them. It is this word that comes from the Father and through the Son and is illumined by the Spirit of truth that we must love in order to find this indwelling, this depth of relationship. Our love kindles this great union and growth of relationship that can take shape within us, guide our lives. The Advocate will make known and understood to us these words.

Jesus says that he leaves his apostles with his peace. 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. I am told that Peace (Shalom in Hebrew) was the common Jewish word for both greeting and farewell at the time. But this peace is a special one. It is the promise of an indwelling presence, a gift of friend, advocate, comforter, a promise of love and union with Father, Son and Spirit. It is a promise of illumination and understanding and especially of life to come - a life enriched by this presence and this indwelling.

Personally, I experience something I can only call love at times when I call on this indwelling for guidance. It is so loving I question that I am just inventing it because it is such a comfort. It is a love unlike that which the world gives - only that which one would experience from a true love. Even when it involves correction. So, come Holy Spirit, Advocate, Friend. In this union we are invited in to relationship with All. May it shape and define us and give us life in abundance.

Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth,
Who art everywhere present and filleth all things,
Treasury of all good and giver of life,
Come and dwell within us;
Cleanse us from all unrighteousness,
And of thy goodness, save our souls.