John 16:4-15
I didn’t tell you this earlier because I was with you every day. But now I am on my way to the One who sent me. Not one of you has asked, ‘Where are you going?’ Instead, the longer I’ve talked, the sadder you’ve become. So let me say it again, this truth: It’s better for you that I leave. If I don’t leave, the Friend won’t come. But if I go, I’ll send him to you.
When he comes, he’ll expose the error of the godless world’s view of sin, righteousness, and judgment: He’ll show them that their refusal to believe in me is their basic sin; that righteousness comes from above, where I am with the Father, out of their sight and control; that judgment takes place as the ruler of this godless world is brought to trial and convicted.
I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t handle them now. But when the Friend comes, the Spirit of the Truth, he will take you by the hand and guide you into all the truth there is. He won’t draw attention to himself, but will make sense out of what is about to happen and, indeed, out of all that I have done and said. He will honor me; he will take from me and deliver it to you. Everything the Father has is also mine. That is why I’ve said, ‘He takes from me and delivers to you.’
REFLECTION:
Thoughts from Monica, Turner Road Youth & Young Adult Site Chaplain
The word that Jesus uses here to talk about the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, is ‘parakletos’. It was often translated as a supporter, comforter, friend, helper, or advocate.
The word for ‘spirit’ in the Bible can also be translated many different ways. ‘Spirit’ can mean breath, wind, spirit, or soul.
For us humans, breath is the thing that animates us. If we are still breathing, we are still alive. In the tradition that Jesus was born into, the story goes that when God created the first humans he used mud and clay to shape our bodies and then he breathed life into us. God’s breath, or spirit, is the thing that enlivens us.
So when Jesus uses the word ‘comforter’ to describe the Spirit of God, it kind of makes sense. Is there anything closer to us than our breath? When the world is falling apart, when we are drowning in stress and anxiety, God is as close to us as our breath.
PRACTICE:
Outward Mindset Application
Ask one of your colleagues how you can be a supportive teammate. What is one thing you can do during the workday to help that person feel supported?
Non-Violent Communication Question of the Week:
When we find ourselves in stressful situations, it can feel like everything speeds up. In those moments we often become reactive.
What would happen if we could teach ourselves to take a moment, to pause, and to take 2-3 deep, slow breaths before we engaged or responded to whatever is causing that stress?
Pathways toward Centeredness
Contemplative Practice (drawing near to God through silence or solitude):
Pick a time in your day when you can spend 3-4 minutes just breathing. Stash your phone(s) somewhere, turn off the music, find a quiet place to just sit and focus on your breath.
Questions for Reflection
The word ‘conspirator’, literally means to breathe together. Who are you breathing with? How are the people that you interacting with on a daily basis affecting your breathing? How are you affecting the breathing of others?
“Liturgy” refers to the habits and practices humans use to form community around shared values and meaning. At Church at the Park, we desire to be a community of practice, becoming people who see the world through the eyes of the marginalized, making meaning through the lens of pain and suffering, and committing ourselves to non-violence in a wounded world. This weekly email is intended to provide pathways of practice for becoming the type of people who embody these values.
Many of our reflections on each week's text come from other sources. If you're interested in reading more of what inspires us, here our our two favorite reflections.
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