5/9/2023 (Tuesday) Today’s gospel reading: John 14:27-31A
27 Jesus said to his disciples: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, do I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid.
28 You have heard that I said to you: I go away, and I come unto you. If you loved me, you would indeed be glad, because I go to the Father: for the Father is greater than I
29 And now I have told you before it comes to pass: that when it shall come to pass, you may believe.
30 I will not now speak many things with you. For the prince of this world comes, and in me he has not anything.
31A But that the world may know, that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me.
5/9/2023 (Tuesday) Today’s gospel reflection: John 14:27-31A
Many of us are prone to worry and lose strength to carry on. We are easily bothered by even the most trivial disturbances that happen around us. Yes, there are wars going on in some parts of the world. There is pandemic that unnerves many of us. There are calamities, deadly or slightly dangerous and let us not forget, the warmest weather in many parts of the world is climbing to higher degrees! Indeed, there is reason to be troubled.
That is why the gospel reading above is very timely. Let us worry no more. Jesus has promised to give us peace, the peace that the world cannot give. No matter what the Prince of this world (the devil) will do, he has no power over us because Jesus is with us through the Holy Spirit.
Indeed, it is not easy to ignore the troubles around us and be happy. These problems do happen and Jesus is not telling us to run away from them. What He is telling us is to abide in Him because apart from Him, we can nothing (John 15:5). Moreover, He asks us to watch and pray that we may not enter into temptation (Matthew 26:41) which includes the tendency to be afraid and be worried. Peace of mind is really not illusive and Jesus never gives us a promise only to frustrate us. God is faithful even if we are faithless (2 Tim 2:13). And so the word “believe” is repeated every so often in order that we may hear it and really do believe in Jesus.
There is a reason why knowledge of God should not only be mental but more importantly experiential. When we know God by heart, we experience that ineffable peace and joy that only He can give. That even in the midst of troubles, we can still be still like a calm sea! Of course it is not easy but the Holy Spirit can help us. Amen.
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