Not Alone !

Last week a young lady posted a simple online message :

“I have hundreds of followers online, but tonight I have never felt more alone.”

Within hours, thousands of people responded. Many admitted they felt exactly the same way. Surrounded by technology, connected constantly, yet inwardly isolated. We live in a world full of communication, yet many people still ache with loneliness.

And perhaps that is why the words of Jesus in John 14:15-21 are so powerful.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:34

Welcome, sisters and brothers, and peace be with you. May the words on my lips and the meditations in our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. Amen. Last week a young lady posted a simple message online. I have hundreds of followers, but tonight I have never felt more alone. Within hours thousands of people responded. Many admitted that they felt exactly the same way, surrounded by technology, connected constantly, yet inwardly isolated. We live in a world full of communication, yet many people still ache with loneliness. And perhaps that is why the words of Jesus in today's gospel are so powerful. Jesus says to his disciples, I will not leave you orphaned. I will come to you. These words were spoken at a moment of deep anxiety. The disciples sensed that something was changing. Jesus had been speaking about his departure, his suffering, his death, and their world was beginning to shake beneath them. Jesus knows their fear. He knows why that they are so worried. They are worried about what life will look like without his visible presence. He knows they are wondering whether they will be abandoned, and so he gives them a promise not a promise that life will become easy, not a promise that suffering will disappear, but a promise that they will never be alone. I will ask the Father, Jesus says, and he will give you another advocate to be with you forever. The word advocate can also mean helper, comforter, companion, counsellor, and Jesus is speaking about the Holy Spirit, the living presence of God within his people. In other words, Jesus is saying You may not see me with your eyes any more, but my presence will remain with you. And that changes everything. I say this because Christianity is not merely a set of beliefs. It's not merely moral instructions. It is not simply a religion. Christianity is life with the living Christ. The disciples would discover this sooner than any of them had expected. After the crucifixion, they were frightened, confused, and hiding behind locked doors. However, after Pentecost filled with the Holy Spirit, these same fearful people became courageous warriors and witnesses. What changed? They discovered they were no longer alone. The Spirit of Christ was within them. And the same is true for us today. There are moments in life when we feel abandoned. Perhaps it is grief at losing someone that we love. Perhaps it is the collapse of a relationship. Perhaps it is illness, anxiety, depression, or uncertainty about the future. Perhaps it is simply the quiet loneliness that can creep into us even when our life is incredibly busy. And yes, these are the moments when God can seem distant. And yet Jesus says I will not leave you orphaned. Notice that word orphaned and I believe that Jesus chose that word very carefully. An orphan is someone left without protection, without guidance, without belonging. And Jesus is saying to us this is not who you are. In Christ we are not abandoned children. We are beloved sons and daughters of God, and the Holy Spirit within us continually reminds us of this truth. The Spirit is not always obvious to outward eyes, but we learn to recognise the Spirit's work over time. It's just like the wind, invisible, yet unmistakably real. You cannot see the wind itself, but you can see trees bending, leaves moving, clouds shifting. And you may not see physically the Holy Spirit, but you can see lives transformed. You can see bitterness replaced by mercy, hatred replaced by compassion and fear replaced by hope. That is the work of the Holy Spirit. In an often lonely, divided and confusing world, we as Christians are called to become signs of God's presence via the Holy Spirit that is within us. We have a listening ear. We speak a compassionate word. We share a meal with someone who is struggling. We visit someone who's been forgotten. We refuse to give up on other people. The Holy Spirit in us works through ordinary acts of love. This is part of our calling as Christians to become visible reminders of the invisible presence of God, to be people through whom others encounter kindness, mercy, encouragement, and hope. Christ is alive. The Holy Spirit is present. Despair never has the final word. No matter how dark the night may seem, we are not abandoned. No matter how uncertain the future appears, we are not orphaned. The risen Christ still comes to his people. And perhaps today, someone hearing this needs to hear exactly that. You are not forgotten. You are not alone. God has not abandoned you. The Holy Spirit is nearer than you realize. Christ walks with you even now. And because Christ lives, you, each and every one of you, also shall live.