The Work of the Holy Spirit
26 When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father
The Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father
He will testify about me.
We understand an advocate to be a legal advisor, solicitor, barrister standing at our side counselling us when the need arises.
Pleading our case can also reveal the presence of divine wisdom whispering into our ear all that we need to say, or remain silent.
In very many church buildings a painting, or statue will reveal a white dove, or paraclete (one who stands at our side) conducting us through our periods of greatest difficulty. The Advocate is also known to us as The Helper. The Holy Spirit is not the doer, He is The Helper. He will help us, and guide us through all that He asks of us.
Our Helper will also take time to discuss matters with us, enabling us to understand why His advice should be followed, over riding any thought of following our earlier intentions. That dialogue arises out of our growing trust in the guidance of our inner life leading us through our life's ebbs, and flows.
Free will also provides each of us with the understanding that we can reject our divine counsellor's advice, going our own way.
“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, in the end, "Thy will be done." All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. Those who knock it is opened.” ― C.S. Lewis
The inevitable question arises, how do we know when it is The Helper counselling us? Our Helper will make it clear that our comfort zone will be not be disturbed when following His guidance. On the contrary we will feel very uncomfortable with any thought of moving forward with an action in conflict with that overwhelming pressure we are feeling to act on the advice of divine wisdom.
My good friend, Jose is alive today, the result of having followed the advice of The Helper not to take the return flight back to his home city of Bilbao. Jose had spent his afternoon weighing up the pros, and cons of not using his return air ticket in favour of an overnight sleeper train. The inner pressure became far too great for Jose to ignore.
The Holy Spirit-Paraclete will be the advocate-defender of the apostles, and of all those down through the centuries in the Church who will be the heirs of their witness and apostolate. This is especially so in difficult moments when they are tested to the point of heroism. This was Jesus' prophecy and promise: "They will deliver you up to councils...you will be dragged before governors and kings.... When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say...for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you" (Mt 10:17-20; likewise Mk 13:11; Lk 12:12 says: "for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that hour what you ought to say").
~ John Paul 11
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