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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider The advocate

The advocate

Published May 10, 2026 12:05 am
REFLECTIONS TODAY
Gospel • John 14:15-21
Jesus said to his disciples: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”
Of lawyers and advocates
Every year, there is so much excitement when the Supreme Court releases the names of the bar board passers. The topnotchers find themselves instant celebrities. New lawyers have a bright future ahead of them. But while some would seek for advancement, others would prefer to serve and defend those who have less in life, offering their legal services pro bono.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that he will ask the Father to send them an advocate, a lawyer.
The original Greek word paracletos means defending advocate and consoler. Both meanings describe the role of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth.
The evangelist John sees the life of Jesus and of the community of disciples as a universal trial. The plaintiff or the accusers are Satan and the unbelieving world. It appears on the surface that Jesus and his community lose the case. Brought before the Jewish and pagan authorities, Jesus is sentenced to death and subsequently dies on the cross. Without their Master, his disciples are adrift and become like orphans.
But on the supernatural level, Jesus’ death is the source of victory and salvation which he gives to humanity. With death comes the resurrection and with the resurrection, the gift of the Spirit: the giver of life.
The Spirit spells victory for the disciples. He becomes their defense lawyer (paraclete). He will prove that the Devil and the sinful world are liars; instead of being proclaimed victors, they are utterly defeated. Jesus overcomes the prince of darkness. His followers have nothing to be afraid of, even if they suffer. The Spirit becomes the consoler of the community of believers. He strengthens their resolve to follow the teachings of Jesus and persevere in loving and serving others.
The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (Gaudium et Spes) of Vatican II presents the continuing “historical” mission of the Holy Spirit: “For theirs (Christ’s followers’) is a community composed of men and women, who, united in Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit, press onwards towards the kingdom of the Father and are bearers of a message of salvation intended for all men and women” (n. 1).
At the feast of Pentecost, two Sundays from now, the Holy Spirit will transform the disciples. They will cease to feel like fearful orphans. They will be “fired up” by the Spirit to announce Jesus’ gift of salvation to peoples who come to Jerusalem from different parts of the world. Through the ages, this other Consoler is with us. He will remain with us until Jesus comes again to take us with him.
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2026,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.

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REFLECTIONS TODAY 365 DAYS WITH THE LORD
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