HOLY SPIRIT, ADVOCATE OF HOPE - 05/24/22 (Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter)

John 16:6-8

But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you. And when He comes He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation:

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https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052422.cfm

Blessed Tuesday! When Jesus told the disciples that He would go to the Father, their hearts were filled with grief. The disciples were filled with sadness because they loved the Lord, and they felt they would be alone. Our hearts can also be filled with sadness even if it's not by the same reason like those of the disciples. Even in our own homes, we may feel that we are just alone. This happens if there are always problems with our families, whether it's our parents who are always fighting or whether it's the children who start to become disobedient to their parents. As we see our family members commit sins contrary to our faith as Catholics, there is a tendency for us to lose hope. 

Even though the disciples were filled with grief, our Lord Jesus reminded them to not lose hope because it's better for Him to go to the Father in order to send the Holy Spirit. This is the same reminder that our Lord is telling us. The Holy Spirit is always guiding us, not just in our joys but also in our sadness. The Holy Spirit is called the Advocate. As Advocate, the Holy Spirit will defend us and support us in doing the will of God. Jesus explains to us that the Holy Spirit will convict the world in regard to sin. The Spirit of Truth will reveal to the world the sins that we commit for us to know what is pleasing to Him and persevere in holiness. 

As we see the problems in our own homes, let's never lose our hope. May we not be discouraged knowing that we should entrust everything to the Holy Spirit. God allows us to experience many obstacles in our lives for us to depend on Him more. Instead of keeping our hatred inside our hearts because of the sins of others, most especially our family members, let's forgive them from the depths of our hearts and pray for them. In the Holy Spirit, we have the hope that He will guide the people whom we are praying for and reveal to them the truth and the importance of following Christ in God's time. 

For others, it takes years before they see a full conversion of their family members. There are also other people who come back to God and repent of their sins moments before their death. What we have an assurance of is that the Holy Spirit is present in our lives. We just need to see, even in small ways and in the little virtues that other people have, the presence of our Advocate. Let us pray that our hearts may all be opened for the Spirit of God's love to enter us and guide us in the way of God's commandments and in the path to eternal life. 

Amen +

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with us always until the hour of our death. Amen. +

 

May the Lord + bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. +  

Reflection by: Dominic