Breaking the Word

  But now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation: sin, because they do not believe in me; righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned. Coming of the Advocate (Jn 16:5-11)

The advocate will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation. So the Holy Spirit comes in to the world with a purpose. The purpose is clear and his work is threefold. He will tell the world what is sin and what is righteousness who is condemned.

Sin is clearly said as not believing in Jesus. The Holy Spirit does not go around the world explaining the different moral sins and the types of sin and the seriousness of sin. These are there and there are people who go around doing this. The Holy Spirit has been sent in to the world to show to the world there is only one sin, which may be the sin of all sins, and that is, not believing in Jesus.

The Holy Spirit will demonstrate that the righteousness is with Jesus. Righteousness is with Jesus because he is going back to the Father. Jesus was sent by the Father with a specific mission and he has completed the mission and now he is going back, and he will not be seen anymore. So righteousness is in returning to the Father. (It could be for us as well)

The Holy Spirit condemns the ruler of this world. The ruler of this world is the evil power. The power that works against Jesus and that destroys the disciples and turns the disciples away from Jesus.

"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. "I did not tell you this from the beginning, because I was with you.  (Jn 15:26-16:4a)

Persecution has been part of the history of Israel. The first one was in Egypt. God redeemed them from Pharaoh. Then by Assyrians and then by Babylonians they were tortured and carried away as exiles. These persecutions were followed by that of the Greeks and then by Romans. So the history has been a chain of persecutions and redemptions. Prophets and other leaders were there to guide them along the way of God.

Christianity faces the same events. The early Church continuously faced persecutions.  Faith in Jesus Christ kept the people together. For Christians the persecutions are also from the religions (if you want to say the mother religion). Persecution was considered to be a worship offered to God. Paul was doing that before his conversion.

The promise that Jesus offers his disciples is the presence of the advocate.  The advocate will speak the truth and constantly be with them. The presence of the Father and that of Jesus are assured to them. Whatever be the persecution, the presence of God is the security and consolation.