John 14:15-17 (CEB)

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 I will ask the Father, and he will send another Companion, who will be with you forever. 17 This Companion is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world can’t receive because it neither sees him nor recognizes him. You know him, because he lives with you and will be with you.


Reflection

Love is a powerful tool. On my way to see my fiancé, I might stop and get his favorite coffee. Or I might spend the afternoon helping a family member pack for an upcoming move. Or maybe I’ll just send a text to a friend who’s having a tough time just to let them know I’m thinking about them. I don’t do any of these things out of obligation. I don’t do them so that these people will love me. Because I love them, I want to do good and kind things.

That’s the idea that Jesus is saying in the first line of today’s reading: our love for God creates in us a desire to do good and kind things as commanded. We couldn’t possibly make God love us any more than God already does. This is simply because love is at its core good and can pull us to do good. Jesus then goes on to introduce the Spirit’s, or “Companion’s”, role in walking with us toward a life in love with God. I love the use of the word “Companion” sometimes “Helper” or “Advocat”. It’s this idea that even though we aren’t physically standing next to and walking alongside Christ, we spiritually are through the Spirit.

With the Spirit as our “Companion”, love can be our guiding action to living a life led by God commandments.

by Rachel Callender


For Pondering & Prayer

What does it mean to you to have the Spirit as a “Companion”? How does that affect the way you experience the Holy Spirit’s action in your life?

Prayer: Holy Companion, we give thanks that your love for us created our ability to love. May we live as people, led by the Spirit, to share that love. Amen.