Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not let them be afraid—John 14:27.

The Gospel text is once again from Jesus’ “farewell discourse” at the Last Supper (Jn. 13:1—17:26). Jesus’ promise of the coming of the Advocate foreshadows the events of Pentecost as Jesus proclaims that he is “going to the Father” (14:28) in reference to his journey to the Cross, the victory of the Resurrection, and his Ascension into heaven. But before his “hour” comes, he gives his disciples words of assurance that will hold them in love through the coming events.

In verses 23-24, Jesus speaks of a mutual love relationship based on keeping his words. For the disciples, that ultimate love is directed first to Jesus, whom they have seen and, on some level, understood. But now they will come to know the Father’s love as an intimate personal experience.

In verses 25-26, Jesus promises the coming of “the Advocate, the Holy Spirit” (v. 25; cf Jn. 20:22), who will act as their counselor, helper, comforter, and guide to teach them everything (v. 26) when Jesus is no longer with them.

Here John uses the Greek word “parakletos” which literally means “one called alongside.” A standard use of the term was for one called alongside to help in a legal situation like a defense attorney. James C. Sommerville, in Christian Century (May 6, 1998), writes: “A paraclete is the one whose name you call when you are hauled into court on false charges, when the school bully is beating you up on the playground, when you wake up from a bad dream in the middle of the night. A paraclete is the one who comes to your defense, your rescue, your comfort, and Jesus has done that for his disciples. But now another paraclete will serve that function. As Fred Craddock puts it: ‘The Holy Spirit will do for the Church what Jesus has done for the disciples.’

“The Paraclete meets the needs arising from the departure of Jesus. The work of the Paraclete is within the community of faith, keeping the words of Jesus ‘fresh.’ The Paraclete is connected with the power of the witness of believers for Jesus. The Paraclete functions beyond the community of faith by judging the world and demonstrating it’s wrong. And the Paraclete leads believers into all truth. With that in mind, perhaps we should ‘rejoice’ as Jesus suggests. We are in good hands.”

The Paraclete is also described as the “Spirit of truth” (14:17). In the past the Spirit of God had descended upon the prophets, inspiring them to speak the truth of the Lord. But now that Jesus had come, the work of the Spirit became even more clearly defined and associated with Jesus as the fulfillment of the prophets.

In verse 27a, Jesus assures his followers that with the coming of the Paraclete they will receive yet another gift—his peace that the world cannot give. It comes through the unity of Jesus with the Father, and it will calm their troubled hearts in the trials to come. Since Jesus has overcome the world, it is a peace that cannot be extinguished (Jn 16:33).

David Lose wrote: “It occurs to me on reading and reflecting Jesus’ words to the disciples that maybe I’ve got it wrong. Maybe peace isn’t an absence of something, but instead is its own presence. Maybe peace is something all on its own. Maybe it creates something positive, makes something wonderful possible, not just curtails something negative. Maybe this is what Jesus means by saying, ‘My peace I give you. I do not give it as the world gives.’”

Jesus also promises that his imminent departure will not mean the end of fellowship with his disciples. He must leave them, but it will be in order to return to them in a yet more enabling way. Jesus will be released from earthly limitations through the Resurrection so that his Divine presence will dwell with them always. Thus he tells them not to be troubled or afraid.

They are not to think of his departure with grief, for now the Advocate will be with them. A new era is about to break out in the world. Jesus has told them these things so that when these events occur, they might believe.

In Acts, the promised Spirit is at work as Paul continues to spread the Good News of the Risen Lord. As the reading begins, Paul has a vision in which an unidentified Macedonian man pleads for him to “Come over to Macedonia and help us” (16:9). Earlier Peter had also received a message in a vision (Acts 11:1-18) that opened up the inclusion of Gentiles. Paul heeds the vision as a genuine call from God, and travels to Philippi, a major city in the Roman colony of Macedonia.

Paul was seeking a “place of prayer” (v. 13) on the Sabbath when he encountered a group of women by the river. Among those present was a woman named Lydia, a “worshiper of God” and a “dealer in purple cloth” (v. 14a), which only the wealthy could afford. Thus Lydia would have been a woman of means, and either a devout Jew or a Gentile “God-fearer.”

Lydia was receptive to Paul’s message, and “The Lord opened her heart” (v. 14b). This language is reminiscent of the opening of the disciples’ eyes and minds after the Resurrection (Lk 24:31; 45).

Thus Lydia and her household were baptized by Paul. This recalls the baptism performed by Peter in the household of Cornelius (Acts 10). Just as Cornelius was the first Gentile convert in Acts, Lydia was the first European convert.

Following her baptism, Lydia prevailed upon Paul to accept her hospitality. Lydia’s patronage, along with that of other women who belonged to the emerging Christian community, would have been an important source of support for Paul’s ministry in Philippi. Later on, Lydia again welcomed Paul into her home after he and Silas had been released from prison (Acts 16:11-40). In the Roman Catholic tradition Lydia is the patroness of dyers.

In Holy Women, Holy Men: Celebrating the Saints (The Church Pension Fund, 2010), Lydia is commemorated along with Dorcas and Phoebe as women who contributed to the mission of the early church. Dorcas, or Tabitha in Aramaic, was a beloved disciple in Joppa who devoted herself to “good works and acts of charity.” When she fell ill and died, Peter revived her (Acts 9:36-42). Phoebe was a patroness in the community near Corinth whom Paul mentions first among the list of those who supported his ministry (Romans 16:1-2).

Filled with your Holy Spirit, gracious God, your earliest disciples served you with the gifts each had been given: Lydia in business and stewardship, Dorcas in a life of charity, and Phoebe as a deacon who served many. Inspire us today to build up our Church with our gifts in hospitality, charity and bold witness to the Gospel of Christ: who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Readings for Easter 6-C: Acts 16:9-15; Psalm 67; Revelation 21:10, 22—22:5; John 14:23-29

This reflection is adapted from Circle of Days: A Church Year Primer – Year C by Paula Franck and Isabel Anders available in print and ebook formats from circleofdayspublishing.com or Amazon.com.