John 16:12-15 (NRSV)
Read John 16:12-15 on biblegateway.com
Verse 12"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. Verse 13When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. Verse 14He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. Verse 15All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Devotion
Last Sunday was Pentecost and we celebrated the coming of the Holy Spirit as wind and fire. Jesus also described the Spirit as our advocate and helper in the gospel reading for that day.
In our reading from the Gospel of John for this week, Jesus describes this third person of the Trinity as the Spirit of truth. What comes to my mind is Pilate's cynical question, "What is truth?" And in response, I hear Jesus say in my inner ear: "I am the way and the truth and the life." "You shall know the truth and the truth will make you free." How do I know this? In last Sunday's gospel, Jesus says: "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" (John 14:17). Thanks be to God!
Prayer
O Holy Spirit, enter in, and in our hearts continue your work as you abide with us through all the ups and downs of life. Amen.