A reading from the gospel according to John 14:27-31A:

27 Jesus said to his disciples: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
28 You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I.
29 And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe.
30 I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me,
31A but the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me.”

Reflection: Separation

There is a time for everything as the book of Ecclesiastes says. There is a time for unity and a time for separation. At this point in the gospel reading above, Jesus knew that His hour has come. His time on earth is about to end and He is going back to His Father. He also knew what human nature is. It is difficult to say goodbye. So He tries to soothe His disciples’ emotions.

Here is Jesus assuring His disciples that He is going away but He will come back. In the meantime, He leaves them with peace, peace that the world cannot give. Moreover, He also affirms that the ruler of the world has no power over Him.

To be separated from our loved ones is indeed not easy. We take comfort from Jesus whose love for us does not end. It is this love that binds us together. It is this love that assures us that everything will be okay. More than anything else, it gives us peace of mind and joy.

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Jesus cannot stay in human form for eternity. His time on earth was finished but His mission is not. For this purpose, He formed a community of apostles to continue the completion of His mission.

Prayer
Dear Jesus, thank you for the gift of peace, love and joy. Thank you too for the assurance that you will come back and complete the work of salvation. May we always abide in you as we await your coming. Amen.