Fr Paul Gooley reads from the Gospel of John (16: 5-11) in which Jesus says to his disciples, “now I am going to him who sent me.”

Fr Paul says in today’s gospel we have a language problem. Paraclete means advocate, lawyer or attorney. The Lord says that he will prove the world wrong about quite a few things. The heavenly lawyer will show the world what sin really is – refusal to believe in the Lord. He will enable them to realise that justice is tempered by God’s mercy, available now because Jesus has gone to the Father. He will help realise that there is deliverance from condemnation because of the power of his resurrection.

When we are faced with a crisis that breaks apart the fragile security we have, that crack allows the Holy Spirit to enter to change our notion of religion, God, faith and life. It can transform the way we see the world. Then the process of conversion and renewal begins.

Fr Paul invites us to reflect on today’s Gospel Lesson – The Holy Spirit enters our lives to strengthen that part of us that will never die – our relationship with Jesus.