Be a Paraclete for Others
Gospel Commentary for 6th Sunday of Easter

By Father Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap

ROME, APRIL 25, 2008 (Zenit.org).- In the Gospel Jesus uses the term “paraclete” when speaking to the disciples about the Holy Spirit.

In some contexts this term means “consoler,” in others “defender,” and sometimes it means both. In the Old Testament God is the great consoler of his people. This “God of consolation” (Romans 15:4), became “incarnate” in Jesus Christ, who is named the first consoler or Paraclete (cf. John 14:15).

The Holy Spirit, being the one who continues Christ’s work and brings the common work of the Trinity to completion, also had to be called “Consoler”: “The Consoler who will remain with you forever,” as Jesus says.

After Easter the whole Church had a living and powerful experience of the Spirit as consoler, defender, ally, in its internal and external difficulties, in the persecutions, in the trials, in everyday life. In the Acts of the Apostles we read: “The Church grew and walked in the fear of the Lord, full of the consolation (“paraclesis”) of the Holy Spirit” (9:31).

We must now draw a practical conclusion for our lives from this. We ourselves must become paracletes! If it is true that the Christian must be “another Christ,” it is just as true that he must be “another Paraclete.”

The Holy Spirit not only consoles us, but he also makes us capable in turn of consoling others. True consolation comes from God who is the “Father of all consolation.” This consolation comes to those who are suffering, but it does not stop with them; its final goal is reached when those who have experienced consolation in turn console their neighbors with the same consolation with which God has consoled them.

They must not be content to offer only platitudes (“Take heart, don’t worry -- you will see that everything will turn out fine!”), but to bring the authentic “consolation that comes from the Scriptures,” which is able to “keep hope alive” (cf. Romans 15:4). This is how we explain the miracles wrought by a simple word or gesture, offered in a climate of prayer, at the bedside of a sick person. It’s God who is consoling that person through you!

In a certain sense, the Holy Spirit needs us in order to be the Paraclete. He wants to console, defend, exhort; but he does not have a mouth, hands, eyes to “give a body” to his consolation. Or better, he has our hands, our eyes, our mouth.

If we stick to the letter of what Paul tells the Thessalonians -- “console each other” (1 Thessalonians 5:11) -- we must take him to be saying: “Be paracletes to each other. If we want to selfishly keep to ourselves the consolation that we receive from the Spirit and it does not pass from us to others, it will quickly disappear.” This is why a beautiful prayer, attributed to St. Francis, says: “Let me not so much seek to be consoled as to console; or to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.”

In light of what I have said it is not hard today to see who the paracletes are around us. They are the ones who care for the terminally ill, who care for those sick with AIDS, those who seek to alleviate the solitude of the elderly, the volunteers who spend their time visiting hospitals. They are the ones who dedicate themselves to children who are victims of various types of abuse, inside and outside the home.

Let us conclude this reflection with the first verses of the Pentecost sequence, which invoke the Holy Spirit as the “best consoler”:

“Holy Spirit, come and shine
On our souls with beams divine,
Issuing from Thy radiance bright.

Come, O Father of the poor,
Ever bounteous of Thy store,
Come, our heart’s unfailing light.

Come, Consoler, kindest, best,
Come, our bosom’s dearest guest,
Sweet refreshment, sweet repose.
Rest in labor, coolness sweet,
Tempering the burning heat,
Truest comfort of our woes.”

[Translation by Joseph G. Trabbic]

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Father Raniero Cantalamessa is the Pontifical Household preacher. The readings for this Sunday are Acts 8:5-8:14-17; 1 Peter 3:15-18; John 14:5-21.

I was a nightmare for teachers through most of my school years. It wasn’t because my grades were bad .And it wasn’t because I was mean or evil. No, I was a nightmare because I liked to talk. And while I was quite a talker, I wasn’t the only one in my classes that talked…there were others that talked more. But I was the one that always got called down. You see my problem was that I talked loud. My problem was that I just did not have what some teachers call an “inside voice”. So I spent most of my younger life hearing that sound, “Shhh…” In the classroom, I would hear it “Shhh…” In the library, I would hear it “Shhh…” On the playground, “Shhh…”(although it never made any sense to me, if I had to use an “inside” voice indoors, why I couldn’t use an “outside” voice when I was outdoors…but it never seemed to work that way!) In the music room, “Shhh…” And even at home my dear old mom would say it, “Shhh…” Everywhere I turned, that sound echoed in my mind, “Shhh…”

But while most of the time I was being shushed for being too loud, there were other times that I would hear that sound, “shhh…” There were those times that I looked forward to that sound…times that I will treasure in my heart forever. When I was growing up, sometimes I would be afraid of going to sleep because of thunderstorms. It was on those nights that my Mum must have been psychic or something because she was able to read my mind. When she would tuck me in she knew my fears, my worries, and my concerns. And she would lean over and whisper “Shhh…listen, it will be all right, I’ll be right here if you need me.” She wouldn’t shush because I was talking or because I was loud but simply because she wanted to make sure that I heard the words of comfort and hope that she offered to me.

It was one of those moments we see the disciples in so often in the gospels…gathered together…listening to Jesus…utterly clueless!! Jesus was giving them one of those pep talks we find sprinkled throughout John’s gospel. He was reminding them of everything that He had taught them. He reminded them that they needed to follow His commandments of love.

And then He told them that He was going to be leaving them soon ...but that God would send them someone in his place someone Jesus called the “Counselor” or “Comforter”. I imagine those words pierced the disciples’ hearts as they realized that Jesus was going to be leaving them...realized that the One they had depended on ...and turned to for support through so many difficult times...was not going to be with them for very much longer. I’m sure they had no idea what Jesus was talking about...and they probably didn’t care. All that matter was that Jesus was leaving!! What would they do? How would they carry on without Him? What would happen to them...to the movement?? I guess Jesus read their minds or something, because He knew what they were feeling. He knew their fears, their doubts, their concerns and their questions.

And while the Gospel writer doesn’t tell us in so many words, I bet that if we had been there, we would have heard Jesus say "shhh" to his disciples. In fact, he probably used both kinds of “sshhh’s” Shhh! Listen to me! I said that I wouldn’t leave you alone...and I meant it! I said that my heavenly Father will send another to comfort you and to remind you of all that I have taught you ...and he will!” Now shhh. Listen and remember. I will leave you with peace...my peace...a special kind of peace the world knows nothing about. Now ssshhhhh.” It wasn't because the disciples were being rude or talking too loud that Jesus had to shush them. It was simply that they were so busy listening to their own questions and fears that they weren’t paying any attention to the words of comfort and hope that Jesus had to offer. They needed to hear the words of comfort and hope that Jesus had to offer.

It reminds me of when my Mum would tuck me in at night and shush me so that I could be comforted I can still hear, in my mind, Mum’ gentle “shhh” as she offers me words of hope and comfort. But on this day, I hear another “shhh” not from my Mum but from my Lord. And He shushes me not because I am loud or talking too much but because I simply need to still my heart and soul long enough to hear the words of comfort and hope that Jesus offers to me…to us.

What about you today?? Worship is the perfect time to focus in and listen to God...but often we can’t do it. What is keeping your mind so busy...so loud that you can't hear what God is saying?? What is it?? Trouble at home or maybe work or school?? Problems with finances?? Shhh...listen...Jesus offers peace the world cannot offer know! Dealing with the grief of losing a loved one...either recently, or a long time ago?? Questions about your faith or your salvation?? Shhh...listen...Jesus offers peace the world cannot even know! Whatever you might be facing now…or whatever you might face in the future…Through the Holy Spirit, God is offering you and me words of hope and of comfort. And that is the Good News that we hear today...Now if only we will believe… In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit…

thanks Cappie! and doesn't the wind go "shhh..." the Holy Spirit sound!