WE DO NOT DO IT ALONE
As we struggle with our problems we are not alone; the Helper assists
us.
St. Paul and his
companions made a journey to Macedonia, not on a whim, but because Paul in a
vision saw a man of Macedonia who pleaded with him, saying, "Come over to
Macedonia and help us." Paul responded because he was committed to follow
the direction of Jesus in today's Gospel. "You must bear witness and
testify, because you have been with me from the beginning" (Jn 15:27). The
result of his journey was a great success, for he founded a community of faith
in Philippi, a leading city in the district of Macedonia. The Church flourished
there and the Philippians became favorites among Paul's converts. An example of
the hospitality of the people was the woman that was baptized who said,
"If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home"
(Acts 16:15)!
We may wonder just
what the nature of the vision Paul had was. Who was the man who asked for help?
Was it perhaps Jesus Himself in the guise of a Macedonian? We have no way of
answering these questions, but something does stands out clearly for us. God
can call us in anyway He chooses, but usually He does so in a very human way.
Actually there was no need for Jesus to take up the guise of Macedonian since
He acts in and through other human beings.
What this means for
us is that in responding to others in need, we are responding to Christ Jesus
himself. The poor and hungry person is Jesus seeking something to eat. The
lonely people who need someone to listen to them is Jesus seeking
companionship. The person who is ill and suffering is Jesus in His Passion. The
needs of our fellow human beings contain the call of Christ Jesus to us to
reach out with a helping hand and loving heart.
Yes! We help out by
reaching out, but we do not do it alone. We have a helper!
In John's Gospel,
the Holy Spirit often is referred to as the Advocate; other Biblical
translations call the Spirit the Paraclete, Counselor, Helper, Comforter or
Intercessor. Someone who is appointed by Jesus to help us in our need, help us
by our baptism. So when we are sick, the Comforter comes to heal us. When we as
individuals gather to celebrate Eucharist, the Intercessor comes to change us
into the one Body of Christ. In the sacrament of Penance, we are forgiven
through the working of the Counselor. The Spirit of Truth is a gift from our
Father enabling us to speak honestly even in time of persecution. So as we
struggle with our problems we are not alone; the Helper assists us.
Why do we get all
this help? The answer is in today's responsorial psalm: "The Lord takes delight
in His people."