Another Advocate: Executor of the Last Will and Testament of Jesus

Homily for 6^th Sunday of Easter Year A 2014

Acts 8:5-8, 14-17 • 1 Pet 3:15-18 • John 14:15-21

Introduction

Any person who has reached the age of maturity and is of sound mind is encouraged to make a last will or testament.  This document gives instructions regarding what is to be done with your property after you die.  People will usually leave the property to their spouse, children, relatives and friends.  Others even leave some money to churches or schools.  And being from the missions, let me make a pitch for the missions here; consider the missions in your will.

Although wills primarily deal with the distribution of material property, sometimes people make spiritual wills and testaments.  In these wills, they usually indicate the values that have guided their life and how they wish to be remembered.

Scripture and Theology

Since Jesus did not have any material possessions to leave behind for his followers, his last will and testament is of the spiritual kind.  His will is contained in chapters 13 to 17 of the gospel of John, which we have been reading at Mass for some time now.  In this long speech of Jesus at the Last Supper, he basically is saying farewell to his followers. And this farewell message is really also the last will and testament of Jesus.

As he tells his followers that he is leaving them, he consoles them with the message that he is leaving behind something of himself, that will make his absence easier to bear.  He does not leave them orphans; the two great signs of his continuing presence that Jesus leaves behind for his disciples are acted out in a dramatic way at the Last Supper: the Eucharist and Service of Neighbour.

·        We read that at the Last Supper, Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to his disciples saying: “Do this in memory of me.”  And he did the same with the cup of wine.  And for 2000 years Catholics have done as Jesus commanded in his last will and testament; we have made him present under the form of bread and wine, for every generation.  Even more important, we have partaken of his body and blood, so as to experience the redemption which his sacrificed body and blood represent.

·        But that is not the only dramatic thing that Jesus did at the Last Supper; we also read that he rose from the meal, took off his outer clothes and began to wash the feet of his disciples.  Even when Peter protested, Jesus insisted that everybody had to have his feet washed.  And Jesus concluded this act with virtually the same command he had given for the Eucharist: “I have given you a model to follow,” he said, “so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

And so in this long speech at the Last Supper, a portion of which we read in today’s gospel, states that: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”  What better way for disciples to show love for their departed master than to observe all the things he has taught them!

·        You parents can appreciate this sentiment of Jesus; aren’t you happy when you see your children living the values you taught them, so that people can say: the apple has not fallen far from the tree.

·        My daytime job is as a teacher in the Seminary; it often gives me great joy, when I see some of the priests I have taught, doing the things I taught them.  I am sure the teachers among us can relate with this experience.

Moreover, for Jesus, he is not just seeking the satisfaction of seeing the fruits of his work; in this case, following the master’s commands has great rewards.  He says that those who love him by observing his commandments, “will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”  What a great gift to leave behind for his disciples, a bequest much dearer than any material property.

But Jesus does more than leave behind an inheritance in his last will and testament.  Like our own wills need an executor, usually a trusted friend or a lawyer to ensure that the wishes of the deceased person are carried out accordingly, Jesus also leaves behind an executor of his will and testament. 

Jesus tells his disciples that “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always.”  Jesus has someone who is going to ensure that the contents of his will are carried out; this executor is the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus calls the “Paraclete.”  Several words are used to translate “Paraclete.”

·        The word used in the translation we heard in our gospel is “Advocate.”  Of course the Holy Spirit is an advocate, a lawyer, who speaks up for a client in a court of law, or a witness who speaks up for another person.  Jesus leaves us the Holy Spirit to defend Christians, especially when we face persecution or just temptations.

·        But the word “Paraclete” can also be correctly translated as “healer.”  This is the person, such as a physician or medicine-man, who is called in to give medical attention to a sick person.  No wonder then that when we receive the Sacraments, the medicine of Christians, we receive them in the Holy Spirit, through the work of the Holy Spirit.

·        Other words that translate “Paraclete” and try to describe the work of the Holy Spirit are:

o   Helper – such as one who gives assistance in time of need;

o   Counsellor – such as one who gives advice in time of crisis;

o   Comforter – such as one called in to give strength and courage, like a coach giving a pep talk to his team before a game or a general to his troops before battle.

And so, if the spiritual testament of Jesus is going to be effectively executed, he tells us that we shall have the help of the Paraclete, the advocate, the Holy Spirit.

But did you notice that Jesus said he was sending “another Paraclete, another Advocate”?  So, who was the first advocate, the original Paraclete?  It is Jesus himself; he is the original advocate, healer, helper, counsellor and comforter.  Now that he is returning to the Father, he does not leave his disciples as orphans.  He leaves someone to care for them.

In many African cultures, there is a custom of having an heir, especially for the father and sometimes for the mother as well.  The heir, usually the eldest son or a young brother of the dad, takes over all the responsibilities of the deceased father.  In fact in my culture we would address such heir as “dad” or “father” from them onwards, for he is practically another “Father,” another “dad.”  Similarly, the Holy Spirit is also another advocate, continuing to do, what Jesus did for us.

Christian Life and Conclusion

Although this gospel passage comes from the Last Supper farewell of Jesus to his disciples, the Church gives it to us for our reflection during this week before we celebrate the Ascension.  For although at his Ascension, Jesus left the world in a physical or material way, he continues to stay with us in the same ways he promised to the disciples.

And so when we compare ourselves to the disciples who actually heard Jesus speak with their own ears, saw him with their own eyes, perhaps even touched him with their own hands, let us realize that we are not at a disadvantage.  Jesus ensured that we would continue to have as much access to him, as they did.  May we always be aware of Jesus’ continuing presence among us, in the Eucharist which we celebrate every week, in observing the commandments especially in service to each other and in the Holy Spirit, the other advocate always standing in our corner.