The Silent Defense

Gospel: John 16: 5-11

In today's Gospel portion Jesus promises the Paraclete to advocate for us.  A paraclete is an advocate or defender in a legal sense.  Our sole defense against the law is love.  Whenever Jesus was accused of violating the law, his appeal was to the love of others.  The love of others is a greater obligation than any other prescription of the law, more important than even keeping oneself pure for temple ritual.  

When Jesus stood trial before religious and political leaders, he offered no words of defense.  He let his actions speak for themselves.  And his actions in his final days fulfill all his teachings and the law of love: he shares a meal with those who would betray, deny, and abandon him.  He extends peace to his betrayer; he forgives those who put him to death and the mocking crowd; he admits into paradise a nameless thief.  

This love and mercy would continue to be extended after the resurrection: he offers peace to men who abandoned him and disbelieved the first eyewitnesses to the resurrection; he invites Peter to love rather than punish him for his denials; he sends out in mission this doubting band.  The actions of Jesus are to be our actions, our sole defense against the world.  Not words, not arguments, not apologetics. It is the silent work of love and mercy inspired by the Paraclete that is our defense and advocacy.