Coming of the Advocate

Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, He will testify to Me. And you also testify, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

“I have told you this so that you may not fall away. They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God. They will do this because they have not known either the Father or Me. I have told you this so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you.”

REFLECTION THAT YOU MAY NOT FALL AWAY. Falling away from the fold is a no-no to Jesus. It is a bad decision.

The early Christians often faced the danger of falling away because of persecution. When caught for being Christians and asked to choose between their life and their Christian faith, many of them renounced their faith.

Persecution in the Roman Empire consisted in disqualification from public office, confiscation of property, torture, and death. Christians were considered antisocial and absurd. Their rituals were seen as superstitious. Those who persisted in their faith were fed to the lions or burned at the stake for public entertainment.

Falling away from the Catholic faith seems fashionable today. For some, it is a kind of liberation from the authority of the Church. They think they are much better off if they live independently of God and the Church. Others join Christian denominations that do not make many demands from their members apart from knowing the Bible.

Are you going through a crisis of faith? Hang on to Jesus.