We see ad after ad about casinos and the winnings. Prestigious labels call out to us. Commercials try to sell us the shiny makes and models of the latest gadgets. Every ad, sooner or later, to be successful, must take the form of a promise.
After seeing so many “promises,” we can drift into thinking if we just get more things, or get ahead, then we will feel better. Some people can even begin to try to “solve” or salve internal hurts by external validations.
One of the most basic temptations we face is to seek out someone or something other than the Holy Spirit to be our advocate. We may be tempted to have style be our advocate. We may want our successes to speak for us. We may desire that results to speak for us. The world attempts to turn everything it touches into power. And then the world offers it to us.
But those things the world offers us don’t know us. They don’t know our story. They can’t speak. And they can’t save us.
Jesus does.
And Jesus promises to send the disciples “another Advocate” (Jn. 14:15). Jesus, the Son of God, rises from the dead and ascends into heaven. And, in heaven, Jesus asks God the Father to do something.
Jesus asks the Father to send the Holy Spirit upon the disciples.
The Holy Spirit is not a back door to worldly things. The Holy Spirit is the front door to Jesus. The Holy Spirit’s goal is not to make us fit in with the world. The Holy Spirit’s goal is to make us resemble Jesus Christ.
The next time we see an ad recommending we spend, buy, or pay for something we most likely don’t need, let’s say a prayer instead and ask God the Father to pour out the Holy Spirit on us. And then wait for the real Promise – the Promise Who is made know in longing, patience, and determination.
God bless,
Msgr. Bransfield
