Following Jesus One Step at a Time
Picture this: Jesus is having what might be the most important "we need to talk" conversation in human history. The disciples are probably feeling like kids whose favorite teacher just announced they're moving to another school. But here's where Jesus pulls off the ultimate plot twist - His leaving isn't the end of the story, it's actually the beginning of the best chapter yet. When He says "it is better for you that I go away," He's not trying to soften the blow of goodbye. He's revealing a divine strategy that's about to revolutionize how we connect with God forever. The Helper - the Holy Spirit - can't fully arrive until Jesus completes His mission. It's like clearing the runway for the most important landing in salvation history.
The Holy Spirit's job description reads like something from a heavenly HR department, but with the kind of authority that makes earthly power look like child's play. This Advocate (the Holy Spirit) will "convict the world about sin and righteousness and condemnation" - not to crush spirits, but to open eyes. Think of it as the ultimate spiritual GPS system, constantly recalculating our route back to God when we've taken a wrong turn. The Spirit doesn't convict us to make us feel terrible; He convicts us because He loves us too much to let us stay lost. When we follow Jesus, we're not just getting a religious upgrade - we're getting direct access to divine wisdom that helps us navigate life's trickiest moral intersections.
Here's where following Jesus gets delightfully practical: the same Spirit that convicted the world of sin becomes our personal guide for righteous living. When Jesus ascended to the Father, He didn't abandon us to figure things out on our own. Instead, He sent us the ultimate life coach who never takes a day off, never misses a call, and always knows exactly what we need to hear. This isn't about walking on eggshells, afraid of making mistakes. It's about having confidence that God's Spirit is actively working in us, helping us grow in holiness while keeping our feet firmly planted in reality. The Catholic understanding of grace means we're not climbing this mountain alone - we've got divine assistance every step of the way.
Following Jesus in light of this passage means embracing both the challenge and the joy of Spirit-led living, much like walking the Stations of the Cross with Him. We're called to be witnesses to His truth, not by being perfect, but by being authentic about our journey toward righteousness. Just as Jesus fell three times on His way to Calvary yet rose each time to continue His march toward victory over death, we too are called to get back up when the Holy Spirit's gentle conviction reveals our stumbles. The same Spirit who convicts also provides the strength to rise again, dust ourselves off, and keep walking toward our eternal destination. This is the beautiful tension of Christian discipleship: being simultaneously aware of our need for grace while confident in God's transforming power. Each station of our own spiritual journey - whether we're carrying our cross with strength or falling under its weight - is preparation for eternity with Him. We follow Jesus not because we've got it all figured out, but because His Spirit makes both the falling and the rising part of the same glorious journey toward resurrection and eternal life.
The Helper's Promise
A Poem Based on John 16:5-11
"It's better that I go," He said with love so true,
The disciples sat in wonder at this twist they never knew.
For heaven's runway needed clearing for the Spirit's grand descent,
A Helper, Guide, and Advocate - the Father's gift was sent.
With authority divine, the Spirit came to earth below,
To convict of sin and righteousness, and help our spirits grow.
Not crushing hearts with condemnation, but opening blinded eyes,
A GPS for wayward souls beneath salvation's skies.
Like stations on the sacred way where Jesus bore His cross,
We fall, we rise, we dust ourselves from every earthly loss.
Three times He fell yet rose again to march toward victory,
The Spirit lifts us when we stumble on our way to eternity.
So follow Christ with confidence, though imperfect be our stride,
The Helper walks beside us still, our faithful, loving Guide.
Each fall becomes a rising, each station draws us near
To resurrection's promise and the joy that conquers fear.
©2025 James Dacey Jr.
