The Holy Gospel according to John (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: The phrase that sticks out for me today is “I have told you this so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you.”
How many times in your life have you thought, “Only if I listened to (fill in the blank) then I wouldn’t be in this situation”. We were told OR we told someone (our kids) how to or not to do something and yet it was still done. So, then the real question becomes, will we do the same mistake again? This falls under the category of “Live and Learn”. Sure, we learn from our mistakes and from failure but it’s how we bounce back from it. Some people don’t know how to bounce back because they are taught that you can’t come back from failure. I say, what’s wrong with failure and failure and failure as long you capitalize from it. This reminds me of a poem/parable by Portia Nelson and it’s called:
There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk: An Autobiography in Five Short Chapters
Chapter One
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost …. I am helpless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.
Chapter Two
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend that I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I can’t believe I am in this same place.
But, it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.
Chapter Three
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in … it’s a habit … but, my eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.
Chapter Four
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
Chapter Five
I walk down another street.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus prepares his disciples (us) for his departure and persecution by promising the Holy Spirit (the Advocate) as the witness of faith and truth. He warns that believers will face opposition but promises the Spirit will provide strength to stay faithful by remembering his words. Jesus shares these warnings not to scare us, but to prevent followers from falling away (stumbling and quitting) when challenges and failure arise. The Spirit helps us get through the “downsides” of life by providing inner strength and NOT forgetting Jesus’ promise that he has not left us alone. This guidance encourages commitment and sincerity in our faith, even when it leads to social marginalization or misunderstanding.
Action of the Day: Sit back with God and ask Him what things in life do you find challenging? Why is it a challenge for you? Where is it that you fail all the time? Then ask God what did you learn from these challenges? What other paths can you take to overcome these obstacles?
Audio Reflection:
