In the gospel of John, Jesus says: "I shall ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor who will stay with you for ever - the Spirit of truth.
In the middle of his lengthy teaching to the disciples, just prior to his arrest, Jesus speaks of the Spirit of truth that will come from the Father to counsel and guide the disciples. This statement is not reported in any of the other New Testament gospels, so is it likely that the author composed it to convey the ongoing presence of Jesus among the faithful in the church. The author is testifying to the truth of the gospel revelation, as it was understood within his church. He saw signs of the Spirit within his community of faith, and so he testifies that this is evidence of the Spirit of God the Father.
The community for which this gospel was written celebrated the presence of Jesus in the sacrament of the eucharistic meal and affirmed that the Spirit of God spoke through those who were faithful and trusted in Jesus as the Christ. This reading offers Christians a sense of guidance, even in facing difficult and threatening circumstances. God is with us. The Spirit of truth is in and among us.
Grace and peace . . . Bob Traer
