Twenty-four years ago this month, my maternal grandmother went to bed one night and woke up in Glory. My mom has some very old voice recordings from her – verbal letters that my grandmother mailed to us when we lived overseas more than 35 years ago. It is truly a gift to be able to hear her voice again, after all this time.

In John 13 and a few chapters following, the Bible tells us about some of the final hours that Jesus spent with his disciples before his betrayal and ultimate crucifixion. They shared a meal together, and he washed their feet like a servant would do. He comforted them about what was about to happen. Although they did not quite understand it, at the time, he was trying to prepare them to cope in his absence. He gave them the gift of his presence.

Jesus’ resurrection and later ascension into Heaven are certainly two of the biggest highlights of the Bible, but I wonder if the disciples went through another form of grief after Christ left them a second time. They knew, of course, that he was not dead this time – he was taking his rightful place with the Father, but he was still gone.

Jesus didn’t leave them empty-handed, though. John 14 tells of his plans to leave them the Holy Spirit. Various translations refer to the Holy Spirit as a Comforter, Advocate, Helper or Friend. Jesus told his disciples that the Holy Spirit would teach and empower them. He would not be with them in person much longer, but he would leave them the ongoing gift of his presence.

Unlike a voice recording, or even a video tape, which can only remind us of a departed loved one, the Holy Spirit is living and active! Jesus has not walked the Earth in nearly two millennia, but his message spreads and thrives because of the work of the Holy Spirit living in us and working through us.

So, if the Holy Spirit is Christ’s gift to us, and that Spirit lives and works in us, does the world sense his presence in us?