6th Sunday of Easter
(Sunday 1st May 2016)
The peace of God is a peace that the world cannot give – (John 14:23-29)
This Sunday’s Gospel is part of the farewell discourse Jesus gave to His disciples to prepare them for the change which is about to happen; Jesus is going to be crucified and die for the sins of the world, but He will rise on the third day to open Heaven and allow us to become children of God. Jesus’ passion opens a complete new reality for us and Jesus is preparing His disciples so “when it does happen [they] believe.” For us too, now in the time of preparation for the Ascension and Pentecost, it is a chance to think again about what it means that Jesus is risen and that He is with us, that it too might strengthen our own belief.
Until then the disciples only encounter Jesus in the world. Now, with Pentecost, this reality is going to change as we are invited into the communion with God through the Holy Spirit sent at Pentecost. This by its very nature is a new supernatural reality. The way of the disciples is not different than our own. We, too, need to accept and grow into the invitation to draw into the supernatural reality which God offers us. We cannot remain standing with both feet in the world if we want to receive the promises Jesus gives us, but have to jump with trust into the often unknown ocean of God’s love.
One of the ways is to engage with Jesus through the Word. If we listen to Jesus’ Word and keep it then God really comes to dwell within us! The Word of God is something alive and active. It actively works in our being and changes how we perceive and life our lives. It helps us to become the people we are meant to be; created for eternal communion with God. This new reality is one in which our daily lives are not limited to the finitude of our day to day business but which opens up our experience to the possibility of the infinite. By accepting Jesus we can already participate in some extent in the blessings we will receive in Heaven.
Of course, this journey is not always easy, and often we have to find out for ourselves what exactly our path is. But through scripture, which is the living Word of God, and especially through the Gospels, God can speak to us in ways which are beyond understanding. Receiving the Word of God with an open heart will help us to embark, or continue, this journey toward eternal happiness. Being nourished by the Word of God will gives us an inner conviction and strength to keep walking the road ahead of us.
So the closer we are to God the better we can perceive the road which God has traced out for us. This gives a security, and indeed the peace which Jesus promises us. A peace which the world cannot give and which satisfies the desires of our hearts for eternal happiness which nothing but God can give.
Fr. Luuk Jansen O.P.