Eastertide
May 20, 2017

Scripture Reading: John 14:15-21

‘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. –John 14:15-17

Having worked as a social worker for most of my career, I used a business card verifying that I worked for my agency and providing pertinent contact information. When I went to work at a church, I used a business card. After retirement,  I was at a loss for something to take its place as I became independent of a work place and an active volunteer at more than one place. The digital age and card stock allows me to create my own business card,  but what do I include on it? I finally added to my academic identities the title Justice Advocate. It is my favorite job description. It helps shape my understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit as my Advocate.

To whom does the Holy Spirit Advocate on my behalf? Does the Holy Spirit run interference for us when we communicate with God?  According to Romans 8:26, the Spirit does: Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. Mark 12:36 suggests the Holy Spirit protects us from our enemies.  Surely the Spirit is the power that enables us to love our enemies.

As a part of the Body of Christ, we are called to model ourselves after the Spirit advocating for others who either cannot speak for themselves or are never heard when they try.

Prayer: Spirit Divine, I rest my soul in you, free me to serve God without concern for the principalities and powers crowding our world today; strengthen my weaknesses and help me use them to God’s glory; give me the courage to invest the strengths you have graced me with to your justice. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the new Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.