Monday in the Sixth Week of Easter, May 23, 2022

John 15: 26–16, 4

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.”

The Lord Jesus teaches his Apostles about the “Advocate” (the Greek word also means, “helper”, “comforter”) on the night before he died.  That there is an Advocate comes as a revealed truth to them.  The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, is not mentioned in the Old Law or the Prophets, though he is hinted at.  The truth that God is a Trinity of Persons is revealed only in the New Testament, especially here in the Gospel of St. John.  The Son, who has revealed that is equal to the Father and in union with him, now teaches of an Advocate who “proceeds” from the Father.  The Greek word also means “to come forth” and “to journey out”.  He will “testify” to the Son.  That is, to make a solemn statement, as though in court, of a truth or truths.  The Holy Spirit will bear witness to what the Son said and will “remind” the Apostles of his teachings (cf. John 14, 26).  The Advocate will not, however, appear in the way the Son did, by assuming a human nature, thereby becoming visible and audible.  His testimony will take a different form, working from within the believer.  “And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.”  The Holy Spirit will urge and guide the testimony of the Apostles as they build up the Church, and they be deemed credible witnesses because they were with the Lord “from the beginning” of his Public Life.  “I have told you this so that you may not fall away.  The Greek word translated as “fall away” means “to stumble”, so: That you not stumble, that is, on the road to salvation.

“They will expel you from the synagogues.”  The Lord Jesus warns them that the Jewish leaders will — not might — expel them from their sanctuaries.  This action had serious consequences since it meant being cut off from Jewish society and could result in the loss of one’s business and house.  On the other hand, this caused the early believers to understand that they were not practicing Jews any longer but Christians.  “In fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God.”  Saul of Tarsus certainly thought so before his conversion.  This continues to the present day.  “They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me.”  That is, they have rejected the teachings and commandments of God.  “I have told you this so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you.”  Jesus is telling us that troubles and persecutions will break out.  We should not panic when this happens because we have been told of it beforehand.  Therefore, we should prepare ourselves by praying for fortitude and greater faith.  And just as the Lord tells us that no one knows the day or the hour when he will come again, we do not know the day or the hour when persecution strikes.