When We Feel Orphaned

   Devotional Reflection, April 22,2025

Tuesday in Easter Week

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.

Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading:

18 ’I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. 20On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.’ 22Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, ‘Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?’ 23Jesus answered him, ‘Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 958)

AM Psalm 103; PM Psalm 111, 114

Isa. 30:18-21; Acts 2:26-41(42-47) or 1 Cor. 15:12-28; John 14:15-31

David's Reflections

Jesus uses the image of an orphan in verse 18 of this Gospel.  Jesus was to die the next day and to ascend to heaven, leaving his followers behind.  He promised not to leave them orphaned.  The word was used of children without parents but also of disciples who lost their teacher.  Some translations render it "desolate."

He promised them "another comforter."  The word comforter translates the Greek term paracletos or paraclete in English.  English translations render it variously--comforter, counselor, consoler, strengthener, advocate, helper. someone to stand by you. The New Revised Standard Version, our translation, translates it “advocate.” I prefer “comforter.” Translation of a polysemous word like this one depends largely on context.

During Jesus’ ministry, according to John, the disciples were not experiencing the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39).  Jesus was the paraclete, the one counseling, consoling, helping.  Now he was going away, and he would ask the Father to send the Spirit to be another paraclete.  He would not leave them orphaned;  nor will he leave us orphaned.

Do the words of verse 23 strike you as encouraging?  "Jesus answered him, 'Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.'”  How stunning to realize that the entire Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit abides within my life, and I abide within the Trinity.

Being a Christian means having a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ.  God's Spirit, given in Holy Baptism, dwells in my being.  The same Spirit dwells in us that worked in creation, that spoke to Abraham and the prophets, that dwelt in Jesus Christ.  That means that God in all of the divine fullness abides in us, bringing the presence of Christ into our existence. That also means that we take seriously Jesus word, his teaching. As we would with any person we love, we live with commitment to Jesus. We do not just say we love God; rather, we express that love in our actions.

Human companionship enriches our lives and encourages and strengthens us.  But, according to this text, we have another companion who always is present and who is present in ways more intimate than any human companion can be.  Greater freedom and greater joy are possible than we can even imagine.  Jesus abides within, awaiting only our permission, our confidence, our awareness to release himself ever more fully in and through our lives.

If we are God’s home, God’s dwelling place just how many unexplored rooms are there in our inner being?  Our spiritual experience could be framed in terms of opening more inner doors and inviting our inner guest to visit more areas of our lives.  Can you list with me the possible rooms--relationships, finances, vocation, addictions, emotional wounds, doubts, fears--that need to be opened or reopened to our inner guest? Again, on the analogy of human relationships, we thrive in a relationship only if we make ourselves vulnerable and open to the other person and they, to us.

As he said, "I will not leave you orphaned.  I am coming to you."

Collect of the Day, Easter Day

O God, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.   (BCP, 222)

Collect for Tuesday in Easter Week

O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that we, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen.  (BCP, 223)

A Collect for Peace

Most holy God, the source of all good desires, all right judgments, and all just works: Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, so that our minds may be fixed on the doing of your will, and that we, being delivered from the fear of all enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through the mercies of Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen. (BCP, 123)

Prayer to the Spirit.

Welcome Holy Spirit, come and set us free! Let each one catch the living flame and be ravished by your love! Let our souls glow with your fire. Help us overcome our forgetfulness of Spirit.” [Clark H. Pinnock, Flame of Love: A Theology of the Holy Spirit (Downer's Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1996), p. 9.]

For the Departed

Almighty God, we remember before you today your faithful servant N.; and we pray that, having opened to him the gates of larger life, you will receive him more and more into your joyful service, that, with all who have faithfully served you in the past, he may share in the eternal victory of Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (BCP, 253)

A Prayer for Light

Grant us, Lord, the lamp of charity which never fails, that it may burn in us and shed its light on those around us, and that by its brightness we may have a vision of that holy City, where dwells the true and never-failing Light, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 110)

A Collect for Mission

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified:  Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.  (BCP, 100)

Daily Office Gospel,  John 14:15-31

15 ’If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

18 ’I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. 20On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.’ 22Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, ‘Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?’ 23Jesus answered him, ‘Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

25 ’I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

28 You heard me say to you, “I am going away, and I am coming to you.” If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. 30I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me; 31but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us be on our way.

Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer

Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer

Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer