Contact Preferences – Metanoia Project

**Today we hear Christine’s thoughts on the day’s Gospel.**

**Please join in and share your thoughts too !**

**Gospel**

**John 14:23-29**

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘If anyone loves me he will keep my word,

and my Father will love him,

and we shall come to him and make our home with him.

Those who do not love me do not keep my words.

And my word is not my own:

it is the word of the one who sent me.

I have said these things to you while still with you;

but the Advocate, the Holy Spirit,

whom the Father will send in my name,

will teach you everything

and remind you of all I have said to you.

Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you,

a peace the world cannot give,

this is my gift to you.

Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

You heard me say: I am going away, and shall return.

If you loved me you would have been glad to know that I am going to the Father,

for the Father is greater than I.

I have told you this now before it happens,

so that when it does happen you may believe.’

**Reflection**

Today we hear part of the farewell discourse that Jesus gave to his disciples at The Last Supper.

Jesus said “peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid”. When we look at our world there is such a lack of peace, with the war in Ukraine and wars happening in other parts of the world. Even in our own country we see conflict, anger, disharmony, uncertainty, fear. I know families where there is disunity and misunderstandings. In our own hearts there can be a lack of peace, perhaps fear, anxiety, anger, unforgiveness, etc.

So where is this peace that Jesus talks about and how do we experience it?

The Hebrew word for peace is ‘shalom’, which is used as a greeting and a farewell used Jews. It’s meaning involves everything necessary to have deep down peace. It means reconciliation with God, harmony and wholeness. This is the peace Jesus talks of.

When we go back to the beginning of creation, the garden was a place of peace and harmony with God. God walked in the garden with Adam and Eve and was in close relationship with them. But sin came into the world through their disobedience and lack of trust and everything changed.

Jesus came to bring back that harmony and to give us peace with God. When Jesus died on the cross, he took all the sin (past, present and future) on himself and when he rose from the dead he conquered sin and death. He made a way for us to be reconciled with God, and for peace and relationship with God to be restored. It’s a free gift but one we need to receive. No matter what sin we have committed there is forgiveness and healing when we bring it to Jesus.

As well as peace **with** God, Jesus gives us peace **in** God. “If anyone loves me he will keep my word and the Father will love him and we shall come to him and make our home with him”. We are given the presence of God to live in us so we are never alone. Peace is not the absence of trouble, there will be difficulties in this life as we all know, but it is the presence of God with us. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “cast your cares on him (Jesus) because he cares for you”. We all need God. St Augustine said, “you made us for yourself O God and our hearts are restless until they rest in you”. Do I come to Jesus with my difficulties, or do I seek peace from other people and worldly things – “the peace the world cannot give”?

Jesus said to keep his word. He has given us his word to follow and this word brings life and peace. So, what is his word? When we read the scriptures we learn about Jesus, we read the promises that we have as followers of Christ and we receive instruction on how to live. We hear Jesus say to love our enemies, to forgive, to serve and bless others, to trust in God, to not fear, to pray – the list goes on. When we spend time reading and reflecting on Jesus’ words, they become part of us so that we don’t just listen but we start doing and living them. When we follow Jesus’ word we live in peace with God and also with others. Imagine this world if everyone loved their enemies and forgave those who hurt them. But it starts with me. Do I truly keep Jesus’ word and live it?

God knows we need help to live his word and it’s not something we have to do on our own, in our own strength. He has sent us the Holy Spirit as Jesus said, “the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name will teach you everything and remind you of all I have said to you”.

Advocate means the one who comes alongside, who helps and supports. The Holy Spirit is with us to help, guide and teach us how to love and have peace. Peace is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

As we approach Pentecost it is a good time to renew our relationship with the Holy Spirit. To ask him to help us experience the peace that Jesus promised and to come to know his friendship, love, support and guidance more in our lives. He does speak to us and wants us to call on him. The Holy Spirit is a gift from God to us, so we are never on our own.

“Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and we shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth. Amen”

- Christine ... See MoreSee Less