The Comfortor

The names Noah and Nehemiah both have the same root in Hebrew---comfort, or "one who comforts."  Both were sent in times of disaster to "comfort" their people--Noah during the flood, Nehemiah during the Babylonian Captivity and return to Israel.

God is He who comforts His people, who builds up strength within us.  To be comforted in all our afflictions and trials---this is what it means to know God, who alone knows what we need and how to get it to us.  St. Paul says, "If God be for us, who can be against?" 

God so loved us that He sent His comfort incarnated in Jesus, so that we could see it, touch it, feel it, taste it, hear it, smell it on a daily basis.  He did not leave us without comfort, but sent His Son so that all who would receive Him would know/ experience His love in the flesh.

But He did not stop with the historical Presence of Jesus; Jesus promised to send the Comfortor when He left.  In fact, He said, "It is better for you that I go away, for if I do not go, the Comfortor will not come.  But if I go, I will send Him to you."  The historic Jesus would always be limited in time and space, but God's comfort cannot be limited by circumstances.  If we ask for the Comfortor, He will not refuse us (Luke 11 and Matt 7).  How could He refuse to give us Himself?