Pearls of the Word

(Back to Index)

I will only speak in the presence of my lawyer

by Jean-Louis Coraboeuf

"And I will pray to the Father and He will give you another Comforter [Parakletos], so that he may dwell with you for ever" (John 14:16).

The Greek word Paracletos also means lawyer, which means someone who pleads someone’s case. The Holy Spirit is this lawyer sent by God to live with us permanently. In the judicial world, it does well not to speak unless in the presence of one’s lawyer, for everything one says can be held as evidence against the accused.

Do we consider that we have this lawyer always with us, and that every evil word we speak can be held against us? How many regrettable or regretted words ought not to have been said? If we reflect on the presence of the Holy Spirit, "our words fitly spoken will be like apples of gold in settings of silver" (Proverbs 25:11).