The Advocate reveals

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary remind us of the comfort we often seek by putting our interaction with God at a distance. The psalmist describes the lifelessness of worship and religious practice which is based on behavioural patterns which keep our experience at the surface. We dwell on the idol, the mantra, the verse and the liturgy. Paul and Barnabas have struck a chord below the surface in Iconium and need to flee for their lives as the disruption to the status quo of their message begins to sink into the consciousness of the authorities. Friar Jude Winkler comments that every society must avoid the danger of interpreting Christianity from our own cultural background. The attribution of Greek god status to Paul and Barnabas is the cultural response presented in the Book of Acts today. Friar Jude notes that the prosperity gospel is a particularly North American confusion of Christianity and the dominant culture. The desire we have to reach the goals is often translated to tell us the rules and we will observe them. The Gospel from John today begins to sort out the path for our understanding of the revelation of Jesus. Friar Jude notes that fuller adoption of the Love commandment of Jesus happens slowly in human society. He cites the long struggle of Christianity with the issue of slavery. Jesus gives us the Love command which sets the standard of love for one another at the love which He has for us and He promises the Holy Spirit, or Advocate, as our constant companion to continue to draw us deeper below the surface to the revelation of how that Love is to be practiced today in our time and place.