We know from the experiences of those first followers of Jesus that keeping His commandments was sometimes costly. In the part of St. Peter’s first letter that we heard as our second reading today, St. Peter reminds us that there is a distinct possibility that following Jesus can bring suffering and even death. St. Peter calls us to keep doing what is right even when it causes us to suffer. If that all makes it sound as if what is being asked of us is difficult, if not impossible, we would do well to remember the other part of Jesus’ message in today’s Gospel. Jesus is not sending us out on an impossible task unaided. Jesus promises His Holy Spirit. He promises that we will not be left like orphans. Jesus calls this Holy Spirit “the Spirit of Truth.†He also gives the Spirit a title that is translated in today’s Gospel as “Advocate;â€but in some translations the same title for the Spirit is translated as “Comforter.†This Spirit is a caring, strengthening power enabling us to be the people that we cannot be alone. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we can have the strength to be true followers of Jesus.