Sixth Sunday of Easter
John 14: 23 -29

During the last supper discourse, Jesus gives his Peace to his disciples. He tells them, Peace I leave with you, my own peace I give you. This peace which the world cannot give, this is my gift to you. These are some of the beautiful words from the Gospel today. I personally feel that peace is one of the important human and divine aspects in life, which we long to have, but we find in our lives that it is not easy to obtain, whether it be peace of mind with one’s life, in family, in friendships, in relationship or at workplace. We always have something in our hearts to be troubled or afraid of.

The Hebrew word for peace is shalom. This is the word used several times in the Scripture to convey a sense of universal completeness, a state of perfect well being which the word signifies only belongs to God. When we possess peace, we are in perfect communion with God. Peace is used in ordinary greetings and good wishes to one another and it is one of the gifts we can offer to one another. But we can’t give it to others unless we are in communion with God.

Jesus was able to give peace to his disciples because he had it himself as he said ‘My own Peace I give to you.’ He offered this peace to his disciples who were troubled and fearful in his absence. He comes to you and me to offer us His Peace in our brokenness in our troubled circumstances, and now he invites us into the realm of peace by being in communion with God and we achieve this by following his word. When we love God and keep his word, Jesus promises to love us and make His home with us.

Jesus in the Gospel assures his disciples that he will not desert them. Instead, he assures them that the advocate, the Holy spirit will come to guide and strengthen them. The Holy Spirit is the driving force in the church that enables us, the faithful to bear witness to the Truth. We pray that we are guided by the Spirit as the trinitarian God makes his home with us.

Amen