Dear St. Paul’s Friends & Family,
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. (John 14:15-16)
I hope you’ve had the experience of having a special helper in your life who has been a listening ear, an emotional support, and giver of wisdom. For many of us, we’ve been blessed with not just one such individual, but various persons who have offered us guidance and support as we’ve encountered all the growing edges that come with living life. Grandparents, a few special teachers, my parents, and several friends and mentors have provided support and guidance to me during the various seasons of my life.
Jesus was a very special person to those who knew him. He was a teacher, a mentor, God-in-the-flesh, and a friend. And like most of those special people who come into our lives, he wouldn’t be around forever. Jesus prepared his disciples for his departure by promising them the presence of another helper, the Advocate, the Holy Spirit to always be with them. The ancient words which Jesus used to describe the Advocate and the Spirit, paraclete and pnuema, indicated the intimate and life-giving relationship of God abiding by our side (para) and within us as breath (pnuema). In other words, as long as we are drawing a breath, God is breathing the Holy Spirit into us. We are never alone because God is filling us with the Spirit to remind us of who we are and to whom we belong.
The unique thing about the special helpers in our lives is not so much what they do for us, but how they make us feel. Do you remember the love and acceptance you felt when you were in their presence? God’s presence within us is best understood as love. The wholeness and abundant life that Christ brings is the assurance that no matter what happens in our lives, all will be well because we have a home in God. May such love not only bind you to God, but to one another as members of Christ’s body.
Blessings on your journey,
Pastor Matt
May 8, 2026
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