The Power of the Advocate

AM Psalm 136 • PM Psalm 118
Dan. 12:1-4,13 • Acts 4:1-12 or 1 Cor. 15:51-58 • John 16:1-15

I am currently taking a course in leadership with an assignment due regarding Advocacy leadership. What perfect timing! What is an advocate? According to Merriam-Webster; an advocate is one who pleads the cause of another or the one who defends or maintains a cause or proposal. In this gospel reading, Jesus tells his disciples “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 him to you.”

How can this be better than Jesus? Jesus is telling us that it is to our advantage that he goes away. How many times I have considered a time when I could sit at the feet of Jesus and ask him anything. But this reading tells me that it is to my advantage, that Jesus suffered, died, ascended to heaven and now is with the Father, and the advocate – the Holy Spirit – is with me. I surmise that humanity just can’t take in the physical presence of God in human form.

I am reminded of a reading by John Shelby Spong: “God is not a Christian, God is not a Jew, or a Muslim, or a Hindu, or a Buddhist. All of those are human systems which human beings have created to try to help us walk into the mystery of God. I honor my tradition, I walk through my tradition, but I don't think my tradition defines God, I think it only points me to God.”

Because Jesus sent us the advocate, to our advantage, we are able to continually pursue God and see glimpses of God in our traditions, readings and in one another.

Written by Susie Norys

Wife, educator, and Mom of 2 grown kids and 3 dogs. Trying my best to listen for God and to love my neighbor.