CANTATE: Homily

“PARACLETE FOR YOU”

Saint John 16. 5-15

CANTATE: 28 April Anno Domini 2013

Fr. Jay William Watson SSP

In The Name + of Jesus

   Your sinful Old Adam always questions Jesus and His under-shepherds. Your sinful self always whines, accuses others, makes excuses for itself, and does exactly what it wants—eschewing any corrective help.  The Law of Jesus doesn’t mollycoddle your rebel rants fueled by Satan but simply says “NO…thus saith the LORD…thou shalt not…the wages of YOUR sin is death.” Look in the mirror.  How’s that self-reliance stuff working for you?  You like independence and spiritual freedom? So did the prodigal son, so did the Israelites who died in the desert…and so does the wino atheist in the cardboard box…for a while.

   But your saint misses home, craves family, and seeks embrace and warmth of tender, protective and caring arms. Your saint needs love and acceptance. Your new man wants forgiveness and peace more than anything!

   Your believing regenerated Royal Priest does not ask where Jesus “goest,” or where He is!  The initial shock of not seeing Him as Saint John, the Blessed Virgin and the Magdalene saw Him does cause some initial sorrow within your heart; but not overpowering grief or despair.  Jesus has seen to that—to your joy and sustenance! Jesus has sent you not a comforter, or some comfort; He has sent you THE COMFORTER!  Jesus has given you God the Holy Ghost in all His fullness. The 3^rd Person of the Holy Trinity is yours always!

   To be sure, the Holy Spirit is also invisible to your fleshly eyes. But that’s okay. Even as your eyes over the course of 50, 60, 70, 80 years and more become dimmer and more prone to cataracts, glaucoma, map-dot dystrophy, and just dimming like Saint Father Isaac’s eyes grew dark…your spiritual eyes behold the Holy Ghost in all His purity forever and ever.  This “Paraclete” (i.e. “stand besider”) is your advocate and guarantee that you have Jesus at all times and most especially in His Word and His Eucharist.  This Paraclete makes His home in your body. Yes, the Holy Ghost dwells, tabernacles inside you, like the billowing cloud of the pre-incarnate Christ, of the Trinity, filled the Tabernacle, incensed the Temple, hovered over the Ark of the Covenant in the Sanctum Sanctorum!  The Spirit fills you with the Word, and thus fills you with the Word Made Flesh—JESUS!

   The Holy Ghost is your life-in-Christ! The Spirit is your daily remembrance of your Holy + Washing—your Baptism!  The Spirit is the life of Jesus in His Church—His Body of Saints—brothers and sisters.  The Spirit is the Lord’s life and presence through His under-shepherds whom He sends to feed you Himself—to preach Him, to teach Him, to distribute Him!

   The Holy Spirit is here…listen! He speaks through the mouths of His servants the Word of the Savior! All the many things Jesus has for you: hear! Glorify God and rejoice this happy morning. Jesus lives! HE IS RISEN: HE IS RISEN INDEED HALLELUJAH!

   Come to Me all ye that are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest.  It is by faith through the loving grace of Jesus that you believe and trust.

   No, you won’t become younger and stronger. No, you won’t have your deceased parents back or your diseases taken away. No you won’t be wealthy and powerful and loved by the world, with all your cares lifted off like a genie from Westinghouse or G.E. making your life-style easier.

   But you are carried by the Comforter to the High Altar of God. You are seated in the finest thrones before the Sacrifice which is no longer only an historical Atoning Passover, but a Supper of Life and Eternity. He Who was sacrificed lives.

In The Name of The Father and of The + Son and of The Holy Ghost