ADVOCATE

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 6^th Monday  after Easter is, "Advocate."

The Holy Spirit is referred to as an "Advocate" in today's gospel.

The Greek word in John 15:26 is PARAKLETOS - and it's translated into English as "Paraclete," or "Comforter," or "Helper" or "Advocate".

Advocate is the word used in our Gospel in English for today. That word literally it means "calling to our side".

That should give us comfort - to know someone is at our side - has our back - will support us.

!n Christian teaching  - that means that  the Holy Spirit  is with us - on our side and at our side.

Did you notice that today’s Gospel mentions all 3 persons in the Trinity.

PAUSE AND LOOK AT OUR LIFE

If we pause and look at our life, who have been the people who stood up for us? Who are the people that had our back? Who have been the people who spoke up for us?

We have all known mothers - usually - who headed up to school - to defend their son or daughter - when unfairness happens.

We all have known fathers who went to coaches and stood up for their son or daughter to get into the game.

When someone needs a good lawyer, we don't use the word "advocate" too often - but that's what we want.

We do know about patient advocates when it comes to hospitals.

FEAST OF ST. RITA

Today is the feast of St. Rita of Cascia - [1377-1457.]

She could be listed as the Patron Saint of Women Abused by their husbands. She certainly was by him. Her 2 sons died. They had health problems. How did advocates help in her day - both about her kids and her husband?  Her husband was a violent man - abusive to her - as well as unfaithful to her. I don’t know the story -but he was killed as the result of a vendetta.

Rita tried to become a nun - but was rejected at first because she had been married. Eventually, the Augustinian Convent, that rejected her - accepted her - and she becomes a Saint.

I don't know if she had an advocate.

I don't know if someone put in a good word for her.

AS PRIEST

As priest we are called to be advocates in family fights and all kinds of situations.

I remember a 23 year old gal - whose father wouldn’t let her date. She had to work 7 days a week in their restaurant. I saw her dad. He disagreed with me - but I was a bulldog and he gave in.  Three years later I did her wedding.

I remember an old lady telling me about a baby girl who was kept in a dry bathtub. She was often beaten and yelled at. I went to the apartment - got in - and headed for the bathroom - and sure enough there was a little girl with severe belt marks on her body.

I called social services and a social worker showed up and the baby was eventually taken in by foster parents and then adopted.

As Church we did horrible in the sex abuse stories - and it was only money that saved so many kids from further abuse - that is law suits and compensation.

CONCLUSION

Life gives us chances to be advocates. Go for it.