I am halfway through my sabbatical, and it is all going so fast! I have enjoyed writing on the Gospel text and connecting it to some of my favorite cartoons: Scooby Doo, The Jetsons, Bluey, and now, Casper the Friendly Ghost. Enjoy!

Let’s be honest—Casper the Friendly Ghost is probably not the first image that comes to mind when you hear Gospel of John 14:15–21. Usually we think of something a little more… serious. Less floating. Fewer “boo!” moments. But stick with me, because Casper might actually help us understand something important about what Jesus is saying.

Casper is famous for one thing: he’s a ghost who is terrible at being a ghost. He’s supposed to scare people, but instead he just wants friends. He shows up like, “Hi! Want to hang out?” and everyone else runs away screaming. Honestly, it’s a little awkward. Casper’s just out there trying his best, and people are like, “Nope, haunted house, I’m out.”

Now in John 14, Jesus is talking to his disciples, and they’re starting to panic. He’s telling them he’s going away, and they’re thinking, “Wait… what? You’re leaving? That was not in the brochure.” And Jesus responds with one of the most comforting lines in Scripture: “I will not leave you orphaned.” In other words: “You’re not getting ghosted.” (Yes, I went there.)

Instead, Jesus promises the Holy Spirit, who will advocate on his behalf. A presence that will be with them, in them, and guiding them. And here’s the interesting part: Jesus says the world won’t see this Spirit, but the disciples will know it. So we’ve got an unseen presence, that does not scare us, but to comfort us. Not there to haunt, but to help.

Now, unlike Casper, the Holy Spirit doesn’t drift around hoping someone notices. The Spirit is already at work—quietly nudging, reminding, encouraging. Also unlike Casper, the Spirit doesn’t accidentally knock over lamps trying to say hello. (Which, let’s be honest, is probably a good thing.)

But the heart of it? Presence. Casper wants to be with people. Jesus promises that God will be with us—no awkward introductions required.

And then Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Which sounds a little like, “Prove it.” But it’s not that. It’s more like, “If you love me, it’s going to show.” Love doesn’t just sit there. It moves. It acts. It shows up.

Kind of like Casper—he doesn’t just say he’s friendly, he keeps showing up, even when it’s a little uncomfortable. And here’s where it gets real for us: sometimes following Jesus feels a bit like that. Showing kindness when it’s not returned. Being patient when it’s inconvenient. Loving people who are… let’s just say… “extra.”

But we’re not doing it alone. That’s the whole point. Jesus says the Spirit is with us. So when you’re trying to love someone and thinking, “I do not have the energy for this today,”—guess what? You’re not running on empty. The Spirit is right there, helping you along.

So maybe the takeaway is this: you don’t have to float through life like a lonely cartoon ghost hoping someone sees you. You are already seen. Already known. Already accompanied.

And because of that, you can show up with love, with humor, with grace even if it feels a little awkward sometimes.

No “boo” required.