Friendships are key for us in our lives. They give us the feeling of belonging and acceptance with like-minded people who desire what is best for one another. A true friend is one who is excited when we are excited, happy when we are happy, sad when we are sad. They support us when we need support, and we do the same for them.

But what happens when friendships fade? What happened to our best friends? Are they still the same ones that we had since childhood? Elementary school? Middle school? Or have some friendships faded, whether because of distance, disagreements or whatever else life has thrown at us? I can speak for myself and say that I only speak to one friend from my hometown; all of my other friendships have fallen by the wayside.

In the Gospel today, Our Lord speaks to the great gift of friendship that God gives us, and that is the friendship of the Holy Spirit. Jesus calls Him the Advocate, or one who is called. Other names for Him we may know is the Paraclete, the Comforter. The Holy Spirit wants us to call on Him in our time of need. As a good friend will come to us in our hour of need, and surely He is no different, but even better in this.

Why did the Apostles need this comfort from Jesus? As we will see later this week, Jesus does not remain with the Apostles on earth forever (in His human body). How would we react, if, after seeing our friend and master beaten, crucified, killed and raised from the dead feel? Surely, after His Resurrection we would want Him to remain with us always. Yet, Jesus could not remain on Earth. He returned to God the Father to sit at His right hand, giving us hope for our own homeland which is in Heaven.

The Apostles, still rightly shocked by the Resurrection, now had to deal with Christ leaving them again. Besides that, they were to go into a world hostile to them. This is the reason the Holy Spirit comes to us. The Holy Spirit comes to us as the Love of God the Father and God the Son. This is the love that was infused within us at our Baptism and was strengthened within us at our Confirmation. He is the Love that comes to us, as our best and closest friend, to go out into the world proclaiming Christ the King. He goes before us as our Advocate and our Comforter, leading us and others always to Jesus Christ.

Come Holy Spirit!

Do you have a relationship with the Holy Spirit? Is it easy or hard to have a relationship with the Holy Spirit?

Where is the Holy Spirit working in your life?

Do you seek out the Holy Spirit?

"Come Holy Spirit!"

"Holy Spirit be my guide."

"Show me the way."

Begin your day with this prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to be with you throughout the day. Look for the Holy Spirit's presence in your actions.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful.
And kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created.
And you will renew the face of the earth.

Lord,
by the light of the Holy Spirit
you have taught the hearts of your faithful.
In the same Spirit
help us to relish what is right
and always rejoice in your consolation.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.