Acts 8:5-8, 14-17/1 Pt 3:15-18/Jn 14:15-21
A few years ago, The New York Times carried an interesting ad for a video tape titled "Video Baby." It's a 30-minute tape, designed for busy people who're devoted to family values, but can't seem to find the time to start a family of their own! The tape shows two infants doing the cute things that babies do, like crawl around, play with a rattle, take a bubble bath, play with their toes, smile angelically, and then fall quietly asleep. No spitting up, no crying, and no diapers! As the ad says, "Enjoy bath time without being splashed, and mealtime without wearing the food. Just set the VCR, and use the off button whenever you like." Imagine the possibilities for a sequel: "Video Teenager."
Would that life were so simple! But it's not. As we scramble along, trying our best to walk in Jesus' footsteps, we get a full dose of life's shocks, surprises, and general untidiness. And we find ourselves asking, "Was I absent when they had the class on this?" There was no class! And the road map that Jesus gave us for following in his footsteps isn't very detailed.
The main roads are obvious: Love God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as you love yourself. But how to get to those roads — and how stay on them — is often very difficult to see. How to love wisely and well, how to be true friends, how to find our gifts and carry them where they needed, how to keep going when we get tired and it gets dark: Trying to walk in Jesus' footsteps can be very confusing, and sometimes we can feel scared and alone.
That's why Jesus' words in Sunday's gospel mean so much to us: "I will not leave you orphans," He says. "You don't have to walk alone. I'm giving you an advocate, a mentor, the Holy Spirit of God, to be with you and guide you at every step of the way. The Spirit will help you see the path, and will give you the heart and the energy to walk it.
"But you must listen carefully, for the Spirit whispers very softly, and often speaks when you're not expecting Him to speak at all. The Spirit seldom says what you expect or what you're ready to hear – so you'll have to listen with an open heart, if you want the truth.
"Trust can help you hear. The Spirit knows what is true and loves you even more than you love yourself. Trust that, and step by step, you'll find your way home."
This is Jesus' promise to us. Trust his promise, act on it, and give the Lord the only gift he asks in return: Walk with your brothers and sisters as the Spirit walks with you, quietly, not judging, but bringing courage and comfort, wisdom and joy.
Remember: If you really want to find your way home, you have to bring someone with you.
