REFLECTIONS TODAY
The most famous lawyer (Latin advocatus) might not be a historical figure but a fictional character by the name of Atticus Finch in Harper Lee’s Pulitzer-Prize-winning novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. In the film version, he is played by Oscar-winning actor Gregory Peck.
Atticus represents good, morality, and the willingness to see the world from someone else’s perspective. He chooses to go against the popular and traditional beliefs of his community by taking the legal case of Tom Robinson—a young African American accused of raping a white woman. He stands for what is right, so he can face squarely back at his children Scout and Jem. Even if he loses the case due to racial prejudice, he is still silently esteemed by his community.
The Advocate (Greek paraklētos) whom the Father will send in the name of Jesus is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth. As such, he will convict the world of “falsehood”: its refusal to believe in and accept Jesus as the Son sent by the Father to take away the sin of the world. He will convince the world that Jesus’ death is not a sign of defeat but a passage to his glorification by the Father, whereby the “ruler of this world” (Satan) is defeated.
While there are lawyer advocates who use their knowledge to betray the spirit of the law, there are those, who like Atticus, stand up for the truth even at the risk of their standing in society and even of their own lives. Let us pray to the Spirit of truth to console and keep in safe those sort of lawyers.
Gospel • Joh 16:5-11
Jesus said to his disciples: “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.”
Source: “366 Days with the Lord 2024,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.