Reflection from Rev Paul Smith

John 15: 26-27

The Helper will come, the Spirit, who reveals the truth about God and who comes from the Father. I will send Him to you from the Father , and he will speak about me. And you, too, will speak about me because you have been with me from the very beginning.

From the Good News Bible published by the Bible Societies and HarperCollins Publishers, © American Bible Society 1994, used with permission.

Reflection

In this passage my version calls the Holy Spirit “The Helper”. This is a very useful way of thinking about the Spirit. And it is this Holy Spirit who says to us in our minds that God is real to us in whatever situation we find ourselves in.

Jesus also tells us that if we want this Holy Spirit o fill us, just ask God, and trust him that he has done what he has promised, but it is interesting here that the next words that |Jesus speaks tell us that difficult things are going to happen, but don’t give up. Why? Because the Helper, the Holy Spirit is with you. When these difficult things happen to you, and they will, “do not give up your faith,” he says, continue to know that He is with you, through it all.

We all struggle with our life situation and sometimes it is easy to feel let down; so Jesus said, paradoxically, that he has to go away for the unseen Spirit to come. So, trust is my thought for this morning. Maybe if we don’t let go, we will only get in the way! There are occasions, of course, when circumstances bring us down, like illness or loneliness, or another person, and if we are able, we can then understand that the Holy Spirit, and not our own strength or insight, is at the core of our living. “If I go away,” says Jesus.” then the Helper will come”

Let us lay aside the weight of our lives and allow the Helper to have his way.

St Paul tells us in Ephesians 2: “It is by God’s grace you have been saved, through faith, it is not the result of your own efforts, but God’ gift, so that no-one can boast about it.”

A prayer from Common Worship

Peace to you from God the Father who hears our cry.

Peace from his Son Jesus Christ whose death brings healing.

Pease from the Holy Spirit who gives us life and strength.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

Amen

Common Worship: Collects and Post Communions, material from which is included here, is copyright ? The Archbishops' Council 2000