The gospel text for this Day of Pentecost provides some of Jesus’ own words about the promised coming of the “Paraclete,” the divine “Companion” or “Advocate” whose arrival is celebrated on this day. Even though the event described in Acts 2:1-21 was startlingly revolutionary, it was an event the disciples had been anxiously awaiting. Biding their time in Jerusalem, they expectantly anticipated that which Jesus had promised he would send.

That promise is articulated three times during the so‑called “Final Discourse” of Jesus in John’s gospel (14:16‑17, 26; 15:26‑27). It speaks to John’s high Christology, not any confusion over the origins of this paraclete, that the source of this Holy Spirit sometimes is “from the Father” (15:26) and sometimes comes in the name of the Son (14:26). The un…