John 14:23-29
Do you have times when you feel as though you just don’t get
it? That you don’t understand? Then you feel afraid or anxious (just the sound
of that word makes me feel, well, anxious). We’ve all had these moments—that
tightness of the chest; the wondering if we’re loved or cared for; sure that
we’re not. That feeling of missing something.
I think that in today’s Gospel reading, Jesus is dealing with
disciples who are experiencing just this. After all, he has begun to say
farewell, knowing that his hour has come. Just before this, Simon Peter has asked,
“Lord, where are you going,” wanting to know why he can’t follow Jesus now, and
insisting that he will lay down his life for him. Philip wants Jesus to show
them the Father—that will assure the disciples, will allay their fears. Then
Judas (not Iscariot) questions Jesus about how he will reveal himself to the
disciples, but not to the world; perhaps he is worried that he has missed some
part of Jesus’ teaching. Uncertainty clouds their understanding, and their
hearts are troubled. “What will we do after Jesus leaves us? His calm,
reassuring presence will be gone.” The disciples do not get it; they can only
see now and they’re scared. They do
not trust—have faith—that God is present, and that God will continue to be
present, even if Jesus is leaving.
In response, Jesus speaks some of the most poignant words in
the Gospel: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you”—words that promise
the coming of the Advocate, the Holy Spirit; a gift greater than any worldly
gift. A gift wrapped in the love of the Father. A gift designed to remind the
disciples of the love of the Son. Jesus stresses, as he does throughout this
chapter, the importance of keeping his word—the commandment he gives them:
“Just as I have loved you, you also should love each other.” He says these
things several times in a short space, according to the gospel; knowing that
this is easier said than done; knowing that it is one thing to know it in one’s
mind and another to feel it; to live it.
So simple; and yet, being human, anxieties and fears creep in,
despite his words. Well, I’d like to remind us all that peace is not an
abstract concept, as when we think about world peace; peace is simply God’s
presence. And faith is not an object—something we keep in a box inside our
minds. It is an action that is part of our relationship with God, whose words
echo in the words of Christ, as he commands us to love one another. As one of
the brothers from the Society of Saint John the Evangelist has said, “to have
faith means to let go of anxiety and fear and to give ourselves over to God,
trusting God’s love and care for us.” It may often be difficult to do, letting
go of our anxieties and worries, and of being afraid, but with the presence of
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, it is always—always—possible. When
offering God’s peace in a service, remember who offered it first, hear the
echoes of God’s voice in our lives, and celebrate that gift by sharing it with
others, and with yourself. Another John (and Paul) said it: “It’s easy.” Just
let go, and let God’s love embrace you. Peace be with you. Amen.
given at the Trinity Center, Austin, TX
