It was the custom in an African tribe that, when a boy reached a certain age, his elders would send him out into the world beyond the village to bring back something of value to share with the tribe.  In this rite of passage, boys would return with all kinds of treasures and wonders: brilliant coloured textiles, luminous gem stones and rare ivory carvings, beautiful tanned leather and pelts.

One year, as the returning young travellers showed off their treasures to the elders, one boy stood off to the side.  He had brought back no trinket or object.

When it was his turn, the elders asked the boy,

“What is the most valuable thing you have found on your journey?”

The boy replied,
“The thing of value I have discovered cannot be held in the hand.”

“Why not?  Is it too big or too delicate to hold?”

“It can be big or small, delicate or strong.”

“Well, then, where is it?” asked the elders.

“It is here,” the boy said, touching a finger to the side of his head.

“In our brains.  You see, I found on my journey that the most valuable thing in the world is an idea because you must believe in it and work very hard to bring it to life.”

In his Last Supper discourse, Jesus calls his disciples to bring to life the “idea” of his Gospel: to bring to reality God’s “idea” of a just world, a human family reconciled to God and to one another, a church formed by God’s grace that mirrors his mercy and compassion.

To that end, Jesus promises the coming of another “Advocate” (Jesus being the first): the Spirit of God that inspires us and animates us to make for the perfect union of Jesus’ words and our works.  The Spirit of God, “advocates” for what is good, right and just, despite our scepticism, rejection and blindness to the things of God.

May the Advocate guide us in whatever opportunities every one of us has to restore hope, to make right what has been broken, to bring back the lost and forgotten and marginalized – to bring to life the “idea” of God.