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Happy Mother’s Day!
Once a year, we celebrate our mothers. Radiant and splendid. The lectionary gave us this passage today, and it is very relevant for today.
Jesus said this to the disciples:
I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. (John 14:18)
Today’s passage is part of his final speech to his disciples. For three years, Jesus spent each and every moment together with them. But now he was preparing to leave them.
But he wanted to assure them that they would not be alone.
Jesus made this promise to them:
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. (John 14:16)
The original word for Advocate in Greek is “Paraclete”. I will send you the Paraclete.
Paraclete means a number of things. It means advocate. It also means helper. It also means comforter.
Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit. Jesus was leaving, but the Holy Spirit would come to be their advocate, helper and comforter.
I reflected on what this means and what it looks like. What does it look like to have the Holy Spirit as our advocate, helper and comforter? How does the Holy Spirit help us?
Because today is Mother’s Day, I naturally began thinking about moms and motherhood.
When you think about it, in your own life, who has been your greatest advocate, helper and comforter? For most of you, it is your mother!
God himself is beyond our human comprehension. Words cannot describe the full reality of who God is. So we use what language we can to try and grasp who God is. We use human images and metaphors to shed some light on God.
For example, people came up with the term “Father”. This depicts a God who is strong. A God who is firm.
Others came up with the image of a shepherd who guides and cares for his sheep. We reflected on that a few weeks ago.
As I thought about the Holy Spirit in today’s passage, I thought about mothers.
The Spirit is like our mother. The Spirit comforts us when we are afraid or feeling down. The Spirit comes to our aid when we are weak. The Spirit intercedes and advocates for us to God.
Paul saw this and articulated what the Spirit is like:
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with groanings too deep for words. (Romans 8:26)
I see a Spirit that feels our pain and expresses it to God. The Spirit intercedes and advocates for us. It cries out with groans and sighs that are too deep for words.
The Spirit comforts us in our pain. It gives peace when the heart is scared and troubled.
After Jesus was crucified, the disciples were scared. They didn’t know what to do and what lay ahead of them. They felt alone and isolated.
In this situation, Jesus appeared to them:
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:21-22)
The Spirit gives you peace. The Spirit empowers you and lets you soar beyond what you thought you were capable of.
That is what the Spirit did for the first disciples after Jesus left. It’s what the Spirit does for us.
All of this reminds me of our mothers.
No one feels a child’s pain as deeply as the mom. When the child is in tears, mom is there to wipe the tears and give the comforting hug.
No one gets as worked up about an injustice done to their child than their mom. No one will turn over every stone to help their child.
Moms worry. They fret. They think of every little thing. They will stay up all night worrying about you. They will research everything possible on Instagram and TikTok to search for answers and solutions.
In their hearts, they groan. They sigh.
Who would we be without our mother’s love? Without their constant worry? Without their endless sacrifices?
We are who we are because of their love.
Mothers are the greatest advocates, helpers and comforters for their children. For me, mother’s love gives me the greatest insight into the Holy Spirit. They do all the things that the Spirit does.
But here’s the thing: the mother’s love and actions are most important when children are dependent. When they are still vulnerable and growing.
From the time in the womb. To when they are babies. To when they’re growing up as children and then teens.
But as children grow older, the role of moms changes. They no longer do everything for their children.
As children grow into teenagers and adults, they become more independent. They have to learn how to walk on their own two feet.
The mother becomes more of a friend, supporter and encourager. Their presence gives encouragement and confidence.
While Jesus was with the disciples, he was like a mother with children. They were completely dependent on him. He did everything, but with him leaving, they would have to do things on their own.
Being alone in the world can seem scary.
But Jesus promises today that they will not be left alone. They will not be orphans. He was sending the Holy Spirit to be with them.
Through the Spirit, they would be able to do even greater things than Jesus had done.
Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. (John 14:12)
They will do greater works when the Spirit has come upon them.
But that would happen only when Jesus left them.
To all the mothers today: Jesus would say to you today – well done, my good and faithful servant. You have done so well.
You have your earthly role: to be their provider, advocate, helper and comforter. But as I reflected on the Holy Spirit, I realized that mothers have a spiritual purpose and role too: That is, to prepare your children to understand the nature of the Holy Spirit.
Their experience of your love – through your fierce and relentless advocacy for their well-being, your unending help when they’re in need, and your steadfast presence as a place of comfort – all these things open their hearts to understand and receive the Holy Spirit.
That is your ultimate purpose from the spiritual perspective. To open their hearts and minds to the Holy Spirit.
Your spiritual purpose never ends.
When your earthly duties are more or less done – when your children are all grown up and you don’t need to do things for them – your spiritual purpose is never finished.
Mothers never stop worrying about their kids. They are always wondering about them and thinking about them.
In that sense, you are always advocating for your children through prayer. Even if you’re not with them and they’re far away from you, they are always in your prayers.
You may not even realize you are praying for them. But anytime you worry, anytime you feel deep pain for them – you are praying for them like the Holy Spirit does. With groanings and sighs too deep for words.
A mother’s helpless love – one that can only pray to God; That is like the love of the Holy Spirit. A Spirit that never gives up, that waits patiently, that endures silently while feeling the aches and pains of your heart – that is the Spirit.
I am so thankful that God has given us the Holy Spirit. I am so thankful that God gave us the experience of mother’s love, so that we can be open to receive the Holy Spirit.
God is not some distant, unknowable, immoveable deity way out there. Rather, God’s heart, like a mother’s, beats loudly for you. We experience that love through the Holy Spirit.
Mother’s love is the solid ground on which their children stand. In the same way, the Holy Spirit gives you ground to stand on.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. (John 14:16)
To be with you forever. When you receive the Holy Spirit, you will never be alone. God will be with you forever.
Whenever you feel alone. Whenever you face great challenges. Remember that you are not alone. The Holy Spirit is with you.
Thank you, God, for the Holy Spirit.
Happy Mother’s Day!
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