Today is the Sixth Sunday of Easter; our celebration of this holy season is near its end. Next Sunday we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord. And in two weeks, on June 9, we celebrate the glorious Feast of Pentecost. In today's gospel, John 14:23-29, Jesus is preparing the disciples for his departure. He promises that God the Father will send them an Advocate to be with them always, "the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it" (John 14:17). He also promises them the gift of Peace.
This peace that Jesus offers the disciples and us is not worldly peace, it is a gift from God that "surpasses all understanding" (Phil. 4:7). The peace that Jesus offers us is peace of heart; a peace that helps us to overcome our very human fears and anxieties. We receive God’s gift of peace when we keep God’s word (John 14:23). In his Letter to the Colossians, St. Paul gives us clear instructions on how we can attain God’s peace, “Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put-on love, that is, the bond of perfection” (Col. 3:12-14). And finally, we must “Let the word of Christ dwell in [us] richly,” through prayer, thanksgiving and “gratitude in [our] hearts to God” (Col. 3:16).
During the next two weeks leading up to Pentecost, all of us should pray that the Holy Spirit, our Advocate who is with us always, will teach each of us what we need to know and continually remind us of everything Jesus said. Then we all can share God’s gift of peace, a peace the world cannot give.
Great and loving Father,
Your abiding gift to us
Is the Advocate promised by your Son, Jesus.
Calm all troubled hearts,
Dispel every fear.
Keep us steadfast in love
And faithful to your word,
That we may always be your dwelling place.
Grant this through Jesus Christ,
The first-born from the dead,
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit
God for ever and ever.
AMEN.
