From the Gospel acclamation: “I will ask the Father and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 16:12-15)
Jesus said to his disciples: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming.”
Jesus speaks to the disciples about the coming of the Spirit of truth, the Advocate. As he guides them to all truth, the Holy Spirit glorifies the Father and the Son. “He will glorify me,” Jesus says, “because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.” One with the Father, Jesus is able to say that the Holy Spirit will take what is his and declare it to the disciples and to the entire Church. “Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.” The fullness of revelation through the Holy Spirit takes place as Jesus sends the Advocate. What the disciples could not bear before Pentecost, they came to understand through the revelation of the Holy Spirit in the unity of the Father and the Son.
God, help me understand the unity of purpose within the Trinity. Everything that the Holy Spirit does glorifies your Son in his guiding to all truth. In sending the Advocate, Jesus says that he will not speak on his own but will speak what he hears, glorifying the Father and the Son in declaring it. How am I to understand the fullness of what Jesus describes in the coming of the Holy Spirit? Give me the courage, Lord, to remove barriers between me and the Spirit of truth so that he can complete in me what Jesus made possible by way of the cross and the coming of the Advocate at Pentecost. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.