"The Holy Spirit Is Our Comforter"

Pastor Laura Guy

August 23, 2009

Here's an instant replay of what happened in worship:

We thought about the fears and anxieties we face, and how we tend to think that past generations didn't have as many fears as we have. But the people who followed Jesus faced persecution by the Romans and poverty. When Jesus spoke to his disciples before his death, he knew they would be frightened and feel alone when he died. In his Farewell Discourse, Jesus promised them a "counselor" in John 14:15-20, 25-27 - the Holy Spirit.
We learned that the Greek word is paraclete, and it can be translated as counselor, advocate, attorney or comforter. What does it mean to be an advocate? We looked at the description on the CASA website. An advocate makes sure that the child does not get lost in the system or languish in inadequate care. The advocate is a constant presence, and stays until a safe and permanent solution is found. The Holy Spirit is our advocate.
We wondered how the same word became translated as comforter. We think of comfort as being a cup of cocoa. Is that what the Holy Spirit does for us? Makes us feel warm and cozy? The translation of paraclete into comforter is first found in Wycliffe's translation from 1380. But comforter meant something very different than it does now. It comes from the word confortare - "strengthen with." The syllable "fort" comes from fortis - to strengthen. It is where the word "fortify" comes from. To comfort means to hold up, to give strength to.
We realized that our paraclete is our comforter because he holds us up when we can't stand on our own. Whether we face the pain of loss or tragedy or the smaller pains of daily life, our paraclete will hold us up and give us strength.
We prayed for the wisdom to stop trying to do everything in our own strength and lean instead on the Holy Spirit.
We celebrated communion at the table of forgiveness and new life.