May 18, 2009

Today's Gospel: John 15:26-16:4a

I have told you this so that you may not fall away.

Following Christ is not easy. In today's Gospel, he warned his disciples of the imminent dangers that are before them should they continue the work Christ asked them to do. He never promised a friendship that is easy. He never said it will be devoid of any hardships, sufferings, sacrifices. And he did not hide this reality from his disciples. Even at the start, he already prepared them, told them what they could expect in pursuing the path of discipleship.

Not much has also changed for us who decided to follow Christ. It is the same warning: this path is not an easy path, thus, some call this the "road-less-traveled." But still, in spite of knowing this, in spite of even experiencing first-hand what Christ had described, why do we still follow Christ? Why did the disciples, the martyrs, and the saints still chose to follow and tread on this path?

Because together with this is a promise of an Advocate. Someone who will stand beside us, who will be there to "defend" us, who will "act" on our behalf. This is the Holy Spirit. He, who proceeds from the Father and who was sent to us to testify to Jesus. We can follow Jesus' path because we have the Spirit. The Spirit works through us and in us. It is that presence that even if we know the work is not easy, we still push through, we still persevere. The Spirit moves us and encourages us to go on.