Thoughts for the Day

'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.'

(New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

In this reading from St John's gospel we see Jesus telling his disciples that he is going to leave them, but he he will send them an 'Advocate' or Helper. This is the Holy Spirit, the third figure of the Trinity, who will give them the power they need to cope with all the challenges that will face them after Jesus' Death and Resurrection.

The Holy Spirit is the power of God at work today. I like to think of Him (notice its 'Him' not 'It') in terms of electricity - the power that makes the things of this world work. We can't see electricity as such, but we know when its there. When we ask for God's help it's the Holy Spirit that answers our prayers, we can't see Him, but we equally sense when He is there and our prayers are answered.

Sunday 17th May, follow up thoughts

O Holy Spirit,
power of God at work in our world,
we thank You for the help that You give us -
when You lift us up and support us,
when You guide our words and actions,
and when You breathe strength into us
to continue our work in this world.
Amen

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