Gospel JN 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

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.”

Perhaps you’ve heard the term, “The promptings of the Holy Spirit.”

As children, we “learn” about the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But there comes a time when our eyes are opened and we embrace in our heart what we learned as a child.

The reality and wonder of God’s love may come upon us suddenly at the birth of child or at the beauty of a sunrise following the death of a loved one. These “promptings of the Holy Spirit” confirm in our hearts the truth of Jesus’ message: we are loved by God the Father.

But it shouldn’t end there.

“And you also testify,
because you have been with me from the beginning.”

Do you remember the old song, “Love isn’t love till you give it away….”
Well, that’s the basic message of Christ. We are called to “testify” to others about the love of God; we do this through our service, through our generosity of spirit, and through the power of example of our own lives.

“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.”

There are many who do not know God or His ways and may consider Christians odd because of what’s considered as acceptable in the world today. They too are God’s children; God desires that they come to know of His love for them. As the Holy Spirit made His love known to us, God is depending on each of us to make His love known to all we meet.

“I have told you this so that when their hour comes
you may remember that I told you.”

As followers of Christ, the hour will surely come for each of us to “testify” about the love of God to those who do not yet know Him.

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:7-8