IN THE introduction to the Gospel, John explained that all of God’s actions in the world should be understood in the light of the intimate relationship between the Father and the Son. Now he adds that the presence of God in us is due to another person, the Holy Spirit. Neither the Father alone, whom no one has seen, nor the Son, who made himself known, can enter into communion with people. They can, however, do so by means of the Spirit, whom we should call God who is communicated. Hence we call spiritual life everything that refers to our relationship with God.
The spiritual life includes three elements: keeping the words of Jesus; meditating on them, putting them into practice and letting them take root in our soul. The, instructed by the Spirit regarding what we should ask in Jesus’ name, let us ask, with all confidence, for those things that he himself desires. Finally, let us do the same things he did. He did not multiply good works, but completed that which the Father asked him to do, even when his obedience would seem to us a vain sacrifice.
I will ask the Father and He will give you another Helper. Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit whom he calls the Paraclete. This Greek word has several meanings. Here we use Helper. The Spirit helps the believers and inspires their prayer so that it may be heard (Rom. 8:26).
The Helper will teach you. The Spirit enables us to understand and interpret Jesus’ words throughout all time.
Lord, how can it be that you will show yourself clearly to us and not to the world? Judas thought that Jesus meant he would summon for secret meetings, but Jesus really meant he would make himself known to them through interior teaching and by letting them experience peace.
For the Father is greater than I. This does not contradict what John teaches throughout the whole Gospel about Jesus’ divinity. This is to be read together with 5:18, 10:30, 16:15, if we want to know something of the mystery of Christ, “true God”, s spoken of in Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13; and 1 John 5:20.
As early as the fourth century Saint Hilary, the great bishop and defender of the faith, wrote: “The Father is greater because of being the one who gives. As he gives the Son all that he himself is, yet the Son is not inferior to the Father”.
Moreover, it is characteristic of the Son to deny himself so that he may give glory to the Father, until the Father gives him back “the glory “the Glory he had before” as said in 17:5 and 6:62. Because of this the apostles, who have seen him as a man among humans in the time of his humiliation, should now rejoice.
The Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name (v. 26). Compare with 15:26. The Holy Spirit proceeds as much from the Father as from the Son being, with them, only one God.
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