Pentecost Sunday – the Gospel for this Sunday is John 14:15-16. 23b-26
1 The Name of the Holy Spirit
Jesus himself calls the Holy Spirit the Paraclete. And He and God the Father know best who the Holy Spirit is. So, what does this mysterious name Paraclete mean?
2 Key Words
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always.”
The original Greek word “paraklēton” that Jesus uses is difficult to translate with just one word. It has such a deep meaning that it is translated variously: as advocate, comforter, helper, defender, protector.
The Latin Church Fathers most often translated the name Paraclete as Advocatus. The Spirit of Jesus is our “advocate.” Many times in this world we are faced with the accusation that following Christ is an error. We are misunderstood or ridiculed. Then we need the Spirit who defends the Truth of the Gospel, that is, the peace and certainty within us that Jesus lives.
St. Paul writes that everything good in our lives, such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, is the fruit of the Spirit (cf. Galatians 5:22-23). He encourages believers to let the Holy Spirit guide them.
The Paraclete is the one who cares for us and who encourages us (gr. parakaleo) not to stop on the path of faith, not to lose the peace of heart, that is, the certainty that the Risen One is with us. He is a comforter in the sense that he gives us courage and reassurance in moments of doubt and difficulty.
The Advocate knows us and is our Defender; the Paraclete encourages us and sustains us in the faith, he is our comforter and protector. The Spirit that Jesus gives us is just like that.
3 Today
The Holy Spirit gives us freedom and does not intrude. He comes when we call upon Him. There are so many situations in life when we need the light and help of the Holy Spirit. Hence, many people pray a hymn, or at least one stanza, every day:
Come, Holy Spirit, Creator, come
from thy bright heav’nly throne;
come, take possession of our souls,
and make them all thine own.
And today we celebrate...