READ SCRIPTURE (John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15)
[Jesus said,] “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, the Advocate will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.
16:4b “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to the one who sent me; yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send the Advocate to you. And having come, the Advocate will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, you will be guided into all the truth; for the Spirit will not speak out of the Spirit’s own authority, but will speak whatever the Spirit hears, and will declare to you the things that are to come. The Spirit will glorify me, taking what is mine and declaring it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that the Spirit will take what is mine and declare it to you.”
REFLECT ON THE READING
After this long time of the pandemic and continuing national and international troubles, we may feel like the people in exile: bones dried up, hope lost, cut off completely. The death of Jesus may seem like another sad story, far away from helping us. But on this fiftieth day of the Easter feast — Pentecost — the Spirit of God that bears witness to God’s victory in the cross is poured into our hearts. With that Spirit comes the whole Easter gospel: Christ is alive; we are raised up with him to no longer be afraid; and the Spirit empowers us to join the witness to Jesus’ resurrection. This Spirit puts life and hope and new breath within us — in the word we read today; in the remembrance of our baptism into Christ; and in the holy supper when we can safely receive it in the assembly. In faith, we see the face of the weary earth being renewed, and we join the renewal by turning in love to our neighbors.
How often are our prayers simply communicating with God versus connecting with God? Jesus always sees, hears, and values us, but we may not always reciprocate. Try making space in your prayer time to see, hear, and value your holy conversation partner.
Do you experience more energy in your connection? How might this relate to the fruit that we bear when we abide in Christ?
PRAY TOGETHER
Mighty God, you breathe life into our bones, and your Spirit brings truth to the world. Send us this Spirit, transform us by your truth, and give us language to proclaim your gospel, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
For additional readings and prayers visit ELCA’s Worship in the Home Blog