Sermon preached by the Reverend Robert Green 10th May 2026

Anne Sullivan was born in Massachusetts in 1866, and at the age of five contracted the eye disease of trachoma, and was left partially blind. This meant that she had no real reading or writing skills, but despite this she was educated at a school for the blind, and subsequently became a teacher. One of her pupils was Helen Keller, who as a baby had lost her sight and her hearing. At a time when disability was little understood, Helen Keller, could have been left trapped in a world of silence were it not for Anne Sullivan, who taught her to communicate- first through touch, then through reading and writing in Braille, and eventually through speech

In 1904 Helen Keller became the first deaf-blind person to gain a degree, and went on to become a tireless activist campaigning for disability rights, women’s suffrage and labour reform. After Anne Sullivan’s death in 1936, Helen continued her public work describing her teacher as her “soul’s companion” whose presence remained in her heart.
Our Gospel Reading this morning is part of Jesus’ farewell speech to his disciples at the Last Supper on the eve of his crucifixion, just after Judas has crept away to betray him. He then addresses the remaining disciples, by asking his Father to send “another Advocate” to be with them for ever. The Greek word, parakletos, ‘ Advocate’, from which we have the word ‘paraclete’ can have various meanings, and in the Tyndale translation of the Bible it is rendered “comforter” Someone who is alongside and a real presence.

Jesus, of course, was referring to the Holy Spirit, who would come to help them. Jesus continues, “This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees or knows him. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live, you also will live.” The world will longer see him- because he will have been crucified, but the disciples will see their resurrected Lord. When that happens, those who love Jesus, who have heard his teaching, and do what he has instructed them to do, will truly know that God loves them.

Helen Keller is often described as an advocate for blind people. Indeed a painting of her called “The Advocate” was created by a group of artists from Kerala, India as a tribute to her, in order to spread awareness about her life, and to raise funds for students at a school for the blind. But without the courage, compassion and ingenuity of her teacher Anne Sullivan, she might never have achieved the great things that she did. Anne was constantly at Helen’s side, a real mentor to her during her lifetime, and after Anne’s death knowing how encouraging she had been. Helen continued to work tirelessly despite her disability. Helen was also a great Christian witness, and in her book “My Religion” she wrote, ‘I believe that the Kingdom of Heaven is within us”. When we love Jesus, and try to put into practice what he taught, the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, helps and encourages us.

In a fortnight’s time we will once again celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit on the feast of Pentecost as the disciples gathered in Jerusalem for the Jewish festival of Pentecost, marking 50 days after the Passover, and the first fruits of the harvest. On this occasion the Holy Spirit manifested Himself in quite dramatic ways, as He has done from time to time all down the centuries. Those of us who may have been at great Christian gatherings from Roman Catholic to Pentecostal will testify to the power of the Holy Spirit on such occasions. I remember being at Aylesford Friary in Kent at the culmination of some ‘Alive in the Spirit’ seminars when some 200 all began to sing in tongues followed by a silence, and the presence of God was palpable.

Here in the Abbey on Good Friday during the singing of the St John Passion the moment of Jesus dying on the Cross was followed by a short period of silence, as we once again grasped the enormity of the event. The Holy Spirit is our constant companion, and He will reveal Himself, sometimes dramatically, sometimes very gently and we should not be surprised. In a moment we shall confirm our faith in the Creed as we proclaim we have a living God who is active and real, and loves us so much.