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Spirit of Truth

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“Spirit of Truth”

John 14:8-17 (14:16-17) – June 8, 2025

Have you ever been in a building during a power outage? A brown-out? Where something disrupted the electricity? Some years ago, I was at an evening meeting in a large building in Evanston, and that is exactly what happened. The electrical power was somehow shut off or interrupted, and everyone had to evacuate the building.

In situations like that, there can be a real feeling of helplessness. What happened? Where did the power go? When can we get it back? What do we do now? The disciples must have felt very much like this when the Rabbi Jesus made His statements about departure, at the dinner table on that Maundy Thursday night. Jesus told His disciples in no uncertain terms that He would leave them very soon. A distressing, disorienting situation, indeed! What is going on? Is our Rabbi really going to leave? What will we do? Where will we go now?

At dinner that night, our Lord Jesus reassures His disciples with the news that even if He does go away, the Heavenly Father will send another Helper or Advocate, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will help these new believers! As Jesus said, God our Father “will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.”

We can see how the disciples react to this news, given just before Jesus has His arrest, followed by the trials and then the crucifixion. Confusing events happening in short succession. This was compounded by the followers of Jesus scattering, running away, frightened by the very real, very legal, very official things happening to Jesus before and after His crucifixion.  Their leader and rabbi has gone. Several dozen disciples, huddled in an upper room, all together.  Wondering where their power is. Talk about a power disruption! Seems more like a power loss of epic proportions. 

And now what? As the disciples huddle in that Upper Room where Jesus and His disciples last met, The disciples still must have been frightened to death of the authorities, after the crucifixion. I suspect they needed to talk about the happenings of the past few weeks, too. Debriefed. Tried to figure things out, as best as they could.

We go forward several weeks to the day of Pentecost, another major feast day for the people of Israel. And where are the disciples? Back in Jerusalem, in the upper room, still hidden away from the authorities. Isn’t that a lot like today? No matter where people live in this world today, no matter what their situations are, no matter what they do for a living, a common desire among many people is that desire for reassurance, a wish for something to hope in, to believe in. A desire to know exactly where their power is coming from.

But that is where today’s story continues. You remember the scene? A little over one hundred followers of the risen Lord Jesus had gathered together in Jerusalem, in that very same second story of a building. The place that was the same Upper Room where the disciples had their Last Supper with their Rabbi. When, on that Harvest Festival morning, a noise like the rush of a mighty wind blew through that upper room. Apparently, it was loud enough—surprising enough—so that people on the street heard it, too!

The Holy Spirit came with full power, with heavenly flames over each head and with some kind of noise, music or something that caught everyone’s attention for some distance. After the energizing of the Holy Spirit, the followers of Jesus couldn’t help themselves. They spilled out into the street, and started speaking other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them knowledge and utterance. Surprising? Amazing? Miraculous? Yes to all three!

But, let’s back up. Just before the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples. Regardless of people’s Power-Source, something was definitely missing in the lives of these followers of Jesus, and something is definitely missing in the lives of many people today. Some people—for various reasons—give up on a belief in a God, in a Higher Power.  They fall back on the vacuum of nothingness, or hopelessness, the feeling of nihilism, the concept that life ends at the point of death, and there is nothing whatsoever afterwards—life on this earth is all there is. Others raise up the substitution of some man-made idol (like the golden calf at the foot of Mount Sinai).

All kinds of things can function in our lives like a golden calf—something else like money, prosperity, position, huge house, great success, or comfort and lifestyle. Other people cling to the Higher Power of self-sufficiency, the substitution of self for God, the crazy idea that I run the show, I’m all that matters, I can be that Power-Source in my personal life.

We all know what a false hope that can be. The Higher Power of self-sufficiency, the substitution of “me, me, me!” for the power of the Holy Spirit. What was so different and so life-changing was that the powerful Holy Spirit moved mightily upon the disciples, and the very breath of the risen Jesus was felt by many—on that day of Pentecost, through the centuries, and to the present day.

The newly-energized disciples spread the Good News of Jesus and His Resurrection, and of God’s reconciliation. Boy, did the Good News travel! The authorities in and around Jerusalem got seriously worried, so upset that they eventually started to crack down on anyone who called themselves a follower of the risen Jesus. The disciples needed to move out from Jerusalem, and started taking the message of the Good News out to the ends of the earth.

God did a new thing at Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came with power! I wonder if God is doing a new thing now, today? It’s possible that “God will use such a time as this to blow new life through and among and into and upon us. For our own sakes, yes. But even more so for the sake of those to whom we are sent.” [1]

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting Lord, the God of all creation is sending the Holy Spirit into each of our lives. Yes, the Holy Spirit is active and powerful, and living around the world. Yes, Pentecost happened, almost 2000 years ago, and Pentecost can happen again, right here and right now. Is the Holy Spirit speaking to you? Have you had the Holy Spirit turn on the power in your life?

We, the Church, are on assignment—out among the people God wants us to minister to. Feeding the hungry, comforting the afflicted, welcoming the stranger, taking care of the least of these. We can all tell people about the Good News—the wonderful news of God’s reconciliation and healing. Alleluia, amen!

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

[1] http://dancingwiththeword.com/all-together-in-one-place/ 

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Our Refuge and Strength!

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“Our Refuge and Strength!”

Psalm 46:1-7 – October 29, 2023

Here we are at Reformation Sunday, the week of the year when we remember Martin Luther posting his list of grievances against the church establishment of the Catholic Church, more than 500 years ago in 1517. These 95 grievances against the Church sparked a movement of protest that was felt around the world. And thus, the Protestant Church was born.

But, that was more than 500 years ago. Long ago history, to a lot of people today! And our Scripture reading Psalm 46? Written about 2000 years ago? That is really ancient times! How can these people and writings be relevant to us, today?

If you have any concept of what it means to “go viral,” Martin Luther’s 95 Theses did just that. For those who are not familiar with that term, “go viral” means a computer post that is popularly shared on email or social networking sites (Facebook, Instagram, etc.). The Urban Dictionary defines “going viral” as “an image, video, or web link that spreads rapidly through a population by being frequently shared with a number of individuals.” [1] That means that lots and lots of people forward posts or images to lots and lots of their online friends.

Martin Luther did not have an easy life,especially after the 95 Theses (or grievances against the Catholic Church) were published and popularized in large parts of Europe.

Seriously, when Martin Luther’s highly inflammatory writings were widely published, he gained a LOT of powerful enemies! And, he went on the run for a number of years, even secretly hiding out in a powerful ally’s castle for two years. But, what about the man?

Father Martin Luther – for he was a Catholic priest – was a sincere, devout follower of Jesus Christ. He thought long and hard about sin and confession, faith and grace. He also thought a lot about and valued God’s Word. Martin eventually translated the whole Bible – both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament – into his dialect of German, the common tongue of his day and area of Germany.

The Catholic Church considered Martin Luther to be a very dangerous agitator and heretic. They sent armies to find and arrest Luther, and he stayed in hiding for several years.  Because he translated the Bible into German, the Catholic Church got even more mad, since they wanted the Bible to be available only in the specialized language of Latin. Martin disagreed!

Which brings us back to Psalm 46, a psalm of King David. This psalm written in a time of great need is reputed to be Martin Luther’s favorite psalm. Such a favorite, in fact, that Martin wrote the hymn “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” based on Psalm 46.

            Just imagine running for your life – which Martin was. Soldiers, even small armies were actively searching for him. The first verse of Psalm 46 proclaims “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” When he translated this psalm into his mother tongue, I suspect the words became very precious and real to Martin.

            Modern translators have done a great deal of study into the meaning of Biblical words. There is a footnote after the phrase “very present.” “Here the translators have indicated that the verse may also read: “God is our refuge and strength, a well-proved help in trouble.” If you go with “very present” you have a God who is right there with you, keeping you secure in your time of trouble. If you go with “well-proved,” you have a God who has been time-tested and, over and over again, can be trusted upon to keep you secure in your time of trouble. Either way – and in all times and circumstances – you have a God who has got you covered. That is what Psalm 46 declares. And that is what Luther wanted to proclaim in ‘A Mighty Fortress is Our God.’” [2]

            I have a special soft spot in my heart for Reformation Sunday. I was baptized and confirmed as a Lutheran in a church on the northwest side of Chicago (now sadly closed). I can remember very well those Sundays in Octobers past where churches had joyous organ preludes, Reformation celebrations, and brass accompaniment for the hymn “A Mighty Fortress.” I remember sermons where Martin Luther’s bold proclamation of “Here I stand, I can do no other” rang forth from the pulpit. And, I try to make certain our congregation understands how vitally important this date is, in the history of Christianity.

            Yet, I am also a hospice chaplain. I choose not to bring the intellectual ideas of Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation to my patients and their families, nor should I. However, I can bring them the very real understanding that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble and need. For, who has more serious need of the Holy than a family dealing with the realities of significant physical decline and approaching end of life?

For that matter, we can embrace this psalm, too. God is always present, always at our sides. “Indeed, is this not as much a promise for a whole community of believers living in a time of uncertainty and anxiety as it is for the individual who is nearing the end of his life now?” [3]

Whether we are on the run – like King David from Saul’s armies, or Martin Luther from soldiers sent by the Catholic Church – or whether you, or I, or our families are going through difficult periods of serious illness, psychological upset, financial distress or political turmoil, God is indeed our refuge and strength.

Is anyone surprised that Martin Luther considered this comforting psalm his favorite? Even though everything is falling apart on all sides, Martin can stand safe and secure in his Lord’s care. And, so can we. That is good news for all of us! Alleluia, amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

[1] https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=go%20viral

[2] https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/reformation-day/commentary-on-psalm-46-6

[3] https://dancingwiththeword.com/being-still-letting-go/

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Jesus Knows Our Needs

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John 14:18 – May 21, 2017

John 14-18 not leave you, coin

“Jesus Knows Our Needs”

Today in our service, we focus on Mental Health and Mental Illness. All across the United States, one in four people are affected by mental health issues each year. Whether the health difficulty is mild, moderate or serious, still—one in four people have challenges or difficulties that affect their daily lives. And if you add the families and loved ones of those who are affected, you are talking about a lot of people! Often times, people with mental health challenges do not have much to look forward to, and not much hope at all.

In our Gospel reading from John 14, Jesus gives us all some hope and comfort.

This reading is from Thursday night in the Passion week, the night before Jesus was crucified. Jesus knew He was going away. He told His disciples so. However, Jesus tells His friends about a Helper He is going to send when He is gone: “16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you.”

Jesus promised us to leave us another Advocate—another Helper. We will explore Jesus’s message to all of us for those times when we are feeling alone, afraid, separate and isolated. Just like people who are dealing with mental illness. Just like their loved ones, too.

The disciples still don’t understand a lot of what Jesus was telling them. Even though He had been with them for many months, even years, they still do not get it. Of course, we have better understanding of what Jesus told them in that Upper Room, looking back on it from our fuller point of view, today. But even now, many people have a challenging time figuring out exactly what Jesus was saying. Helper? Advocate? Spirit from God? What is that all about?

In a magazine, Vision New England’s Ministries with the Disabled, a minister writes “How many families in your [acquaintance] have a loved one who struggles with a serious, acute or chronic mental health issue?” Carlene Hill Byron says that “Someone is probably hurting and they’re afraid to tell you.” [1]

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. NAMI teaches us that “Mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life.” [2]

Do you think Jesus understands how we feel? How about everyone, absolutely every person—does Jesus know how each one of us feels? What about individuals who are suffering from major depression? What about schizophrenia? Bipolar disorder? Obsessive compulsive disorder? How about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? Are all of these afflictions diseases that Jesus understands? Can He come alongside of each of us, in whatever mental state we happen to be in? Or, will Jesus desert us, like so many people do who just do not understand us?

The next verses in John 14: “18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see Me anymore, but you will see Me.”

Where Jesus mentions “I will not leave you as orphans,” that is exactly what He said, and exactly what He meant. “Orphan” (orphanos) “was a common metaphor to describe disciples left without their masters.” [3] Dr. O’Day mentions a special poignancy in Jesus’s words here, where He talks about a special family relationship He has with His friends and disciples. Especially here in the Gospel of John, Jesus refers to His friends as “little children.”

“I will not leave you as orphans.” Sometimes, in this imperfect life, things happen. Loved ones die. Listen to this personal recollection from the Rev. Dr. Anna Hosemann-Butler: “Orphaned. Alone. Without guidance. Without support. Without parents. Without anyone. Mostly, “orphaned” means being so isolated in this world that it feels like no one cares whether or not we live or die. Orphaned. Really depressing. At least, it can be—and terrifying, too.

“Although an image of children first comes to mind when we use that word, any of us can be orphaned at any age. In fact, on any given day, a lot of us are orphaned, at least in spirit.

I lost my father to cancer when I was eight years old, and so became a “half-orphan,” and thus appropriately half-terrified.

“I became a child who on the surface was fine, but inside was frantic in my love for my mother, always on the edge of panic where her well-being was concerned, desperately afraid that something would happen to her and I would be completely alone in the world. Anxious fear was a constant childhood companion. There was no way around it, it seemed.” [4]

Imagine fear and anxiety like that, every single day. Dr. Hosemann-Butler describes her childhood feelings so vividly here as she relates how filled with panic and anxiety she was at the sense of being orphaned. I suspect many, many people with mental illness go through similar feelings of panic, fear, anxiety, and loneliness. It is not just fear and desperation at being left alone for people with mental illnesses, but it’s also a dark cloud of stigma that surrounds them. Many times, they can be unfairly labeled, bullied at school or work, excluded or shunned in social situations, and marginalized in many different ways.

But, Jesus never does any of those things. Can anyone imagine our Lord Jesus bullying someone? Or, shunning anyone? Certainly not! He would be likely to go out to the parking lot or in back by the alley, where the shunned and excluded ones are hanging out. Just as Jesus thought of His friends and disciples as His children, that is the same way He thinks of any of His modern-day friends and followers, too.

Remember what Jesus reminds us: “16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth.” Even though Jesus might have known He was ascending to heaven in just a few weeks, He knew the Holy Spirit would come to be with the disciples. Just as Jesus promised, the Holy Spirit is with us today as well, indwelling us and coming alongside of us.

I would like to encourage all of us, today—be friends for someone who is hurting, today. Come alongside of someone who struggles with mental illness, or one of their family members, today. Provide a warm welcome for these friends, so they don’t feel alone any more.

I want to reiterate: Jesus will not leave anyone as orphans—not grown ups, not children, not seniors, not people who are blind or deaf or with speech impediments, not people who are developmentally disabled, and not people with mental illnesses. No one. No one.

Remember Psalm 23, where King David talks of walking through the valley of the shadow? Sure, the road ahead may be dark sometimes, and take unexpected twists and turns, but the Holy Spirit will be right by our sides. Always. Jesus has promised, and we can take His word for it. Alleluia, amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my regular blog for 2017: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and my other blog,  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!)

[1] A quotation from Carlene Hill Byron, from Vision New England Ministries with the Disabled, http://mhn-ucc.blogspot.com/p/mental-health-sunday.html   https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1-I-16TIdciVlprWldQOTEtdUE/edit , page 11.

[2]. http://mhn-ucc.blogspot.com/p/mental-health-sunday.html   https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1-I-16TIdciVlprWldQOTEtdUE/edit

[3] O’Day, Gail, The Gospel of John, The new Interpreter’s Bible: general articles & introduction, commentary, & reflections for each book of the Bible, Vol. 9 (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2000), 748.

[4]  http://www.patheos.com/Progressive-Christian/Orphaned-Anna-Hosemann-Butler-05-20-2014 , “Orphaned?” Anna Hosemann-Butler, Edgy Exegesis, 2014.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my regular blog for 2017: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and my other blog,  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!)