Don't you just love it when things all come together! Synchronicity, me thinks.
Today Jesus announces to his disciples that he shall be known by other people in other times, beyond their immediate circle following the living Christ:
I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name-- he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you (Jn 14:25-26)
The Greek word 'parakletes' is used for the 'Advocate' and this explanation by the Jesuits of Ireland i found very helpful:
"The word ‘paraclete’ (parakletes, paraklhths) has many meanings. It can mean a defence lawyer in a court of law, who stands beside the defendant and supports him in making his case. It means any person who stands by you and gives you support and comfort". (Sacred Space)
Why do i need a defence lawyer to stand with me as i make my (daily) case to God, that i keep His commandments and observe them? Why on Earth not?! For "Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him" (Jn 14:23) So i approach the mystery that is God with joy and trepidation, with Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance, with faith and hope and charity.
Holy Ghost? Mystery? A wonderful explanation of the sacrament of the Eucharist by the English Dominicans provides me with some insight:
"God is not some ‘thing’ that we will ever get our thoughts around, not some thing we will ever get our language around; the infinite God exceeds our finite mind’s capacity to understand. We ought, then, to be suspicious of any attempt to ‘explain’ the real presence of Christ among us in the Eucharist" (Godz Dogz)
(For the 'explanation' i suggest reading the Dominican's clear and understandable one!)
Anyway, as a mere human trying to get his head around God, to love Him and my neighbour, having the Christ stand next to me, guide me, council me, teach me, demonstrate to me just how one can live a human life pleasing to God and create a better 'me' and a better world in the process, then why would i choose to put this Light under my bed or behind closed doors?
Perhaps i have to listen with more attention, being better focused, less distracted and with more faith.
Deo gratias.
Today Jesus announces to his disciples that he shall be known by other people in other times, beyond their immediate circle following the living Christ:
I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name-- he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you (Jn 14:25-26)
The Greek word 'parakletes' is used for the 'Advocate' and this explanation by the Jesuits of Ireland i found very helpful:
"The word ‘paraclete’ (parakletes, paraklhths) has many meanings. It can mean a defence lawyer in a court of law, who stands beside the defendant and supports him in making his case. It means any person who stands by you and gives you support and comfort". (Sacred Space)
Why do i need a defence lawyer to stand with me as i make my (daily) case to God, that i keep His commandments and observe them? Why on Earth not?! For "Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him" (Jn 14:23) So i approach the mystery that is God with joy and trepidation, with Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance, with faith and hope and charity.
Holy Ghost? Mystery? A wonderful explanation of the sacrament of the Eucharist by the English Dominicans provides me with some insight:
"God is not some ‘thing’ that we will ever get our thoughts around, not some thing we will ever get our language around; the infinite God exceeds our finite mind’s capacity to understand. We ought, then, to be suspicious of any attempt to ‘explain’ the real presence of Christ among us in the Eucharist" (Godz Dogz)
(For the 'explanation' i suggest reading the Dominican's clear and understandable one!)
Anyway, as a mere human trying to get his head around God, to love Him and my neighbour, having the Christ stand next to me, guide me, council me, teach me, demonstrate to me just how one can live a human life pleasing to God and create a better 'me' and a better world in the process, then why would i choose to put this Light under my bed or behind closed doors?
Perhaps i have to listen with more attention, being better focused, less distracted and with more faith.
Deo gratias.
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