May, 2010 What is the Comforter?
The 1902 minutes of the Vestry record the selection of the name of our parish -- Church of the Holy Comforter. The Clerk indicates "after discussion the name was chosen." Unfortunately, we do not know what that discussion was. Nonetheless, we've been Holy Comforter for over one hundred years.
"Comforter" is the translation of the Greek word Paraclete, taken from John's Gospel. Jesus promises to send to the church God's gift of another Paraclete. [If you type the word "paraclete," spell check suggests that you may mean "parakeet." Now that is interesting. The Holy Spirit has traditionally been depicted as a dove. Parakeet isn't too far off.] The Paraclete has been translated as "Comforter" (KJV), "Counselor" (RSV & NIV), and "Advocate (JB & NEB). Paraclete literally means, "called to the side of" and came from the legal lexicon. Paraclete was one who advocated for the defendant. In John's Gospel the Paraclete continues Jesus' ministry, advocates for us, encourages us, challenges us to live into the new commandment - to love one another as I have loved you.
Sometimes I hear folks speak about the Holy Comforter as if it were a fluffy blanket or quilt, soft and cuddly. Some even refer to our parish as the Holy Blanket, the Quilt, as if everything about our life was cozy and nice. Those who live here know we face the same challenges as others.
In early English the term "comforter" carried the Latin meaning - confortare "to strengthen much." The "comforter" is one who "strengthens much." We are named after the "Comforter," the one who strengthens us.
There is an English military painting with caption that tells the General is "comforting" his troops. The picture depicts the General with a whip in his hands thrashing the troops, getting them motivated to act, "comforting" them, strengthening them. Comforter meant one who prods us along to get moving.
Whatever the reason the Vestry selected the name Holy Comforter; they selected the Paraclete, the one meant to stand beside us and encourage us and prod us along. During these months ahead, we fervently pray that the Holy Comforter strengthens us much. May we live into the vision of the people we say we are. Come Holy Comforter and "comfort" us.
