"It is for your own good that I am going away," is likely not the most comforting thing Jesus ever said to his disciples. Yet any of the disciples with parents, grandparents, or older siblings, had likely heard "it's for your own good" before.

While this may have left a bitter taste in their grieving mouths, Jesus continued to explain his reason for tangibly leaving them. "Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you." At that point, hopefully the disciples began to grasp that the very reason they grieved, Jesus' absence, was the exact avenue for the Advocate's appearance. While they would no longer be able to see Jesus, they would most certainly feel, sense, and see the presence of the Advocate in their midst.

Thank God we have an Advocate who isn't afraid to teach and redirect us with a love-filled "it's for your own good"! May God grant us the humility to hear the constructive criticism of the Divine.

By Ashley-Anne Masters from D365