Welcoming the Holy
Here we invite you to take time for yourself in personal prayer. The following spiritual reflection offers words and images which we hope will evoke for you an experience of God.
By: Sister Ruth Maier
“Let not your hearts be troubled or afraid.”
Opening Prayer
Ever-living, faithful God, grant that we may celebrate with joy the resurrection of Your Son, Jesus, and express in our lives, our works and our words the love we celebrate.
We ask this through Jesus, the Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit. Amen
Scripture
John 14: 23 – 29
Jesus said to His disciples: “Whoever loves me will keep my Word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
“Whoever does not love me does not keep my Word; yet the Word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me.
“I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you. 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. You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’”
If you love me you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe.
Reflection
As we approach the end of this Easter Season and the Ascension of Jesus returning to His Father, today’s Gospel Story finds us at the Last Supper listening to Jesus’ farewell words to the Twelve as He prepares them for His leaving.
He has just told them, “I will be with you only a little while longer.” Peter, Thomas, Phillip and Judas, (not Iscariot) all have questions about this – they do not understand, their hearts are troubled. And as Jesus has said so many times – “do not be afraid; do not let your hearts be troubled;” my Holy Spirit will be with you to give you courage in time of fear and comfort for your anxious hearts.
Judas wants to know how it is that Jesus will reveal Himself to them and not to the world? It is this question Jesus answers in today’s Gospel:
The world no longer see Jesus of Nazareth, the physical Jesus. However, the world does see His disciples, His followers. The world sees those who keep His Word, those who love Him, those in whom God dwells. Jesus makes it clear that those who keep His Word live by the Commandments, serve others, wash one another’s feet, care for the stranger, the sick and the widows. We come to see Jesus when we keep his Word.
How is the Holy spirit at work in your life?
Who sees Jesus through your daily works and actions?
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, You are ever with us and have promised to return. Fill us with the power of the Holy Spirit as we go forth to witness to Your love and presence.
Grant that the testimony of our lives may glorify You, Who live and reign forever in unity with the Father and The Holy Spirit. Amen
