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Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. ”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 forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. ”I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. (John 14: 8-17, 25-27) Reflection How have you or do you experience the Holy Spirit in your life? In John 14: 16, the Holy Spirit is called an Advocate. In Greek the word is paraclete, which means "one who is called alongside." The word can also be translated "helper," "comforter," "encourager," and "intercessor." (from the margin notes in my Lutheran Study Bible) Today I am feeling the Holy Spirit as one who comes to walk alongside. There is a refrain in a choir anthem we sing that goes, "When times are hard may hardness never turn your heart to stone. May you always remember when shadows fall you do not walk alone." It's from an Irish blessing. I just love that line...may hardness never turn your heart to stone. Knowing we do not walk alone softens the hard times; softens the heart. --Ruth Gates Prayer Dear God, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit so we do not walk alone. Guide us on our paths with your light of love. With you alongside, we can love. Amen.
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