Homily Notes 6th Sunday of Easter/ “The Gift of Peace in Uncertainty”
6th Sunday of Easter/ “The Gift of Peace in Uncertainty”
Gerald Manley Hopkins once said, “The Holy Ghost is the Paraclete, but what is a Paraclete? The word is Greek. Often it is translated Comforter, but a Paraclete does more than that. A Paraclete is one who comforts, who cheers, who encourages, who persuades who exhorts, who stirs up who urges forward. A Paraclete is one who calls us on to do good.”
We read from Jesus’ farewell discourse in the Gospel of John several times during the Easter Season. We read from it today. Jesus uttered these words at the last Supper. He realized that his death was coming. He also knew his death would be a shock to his disciples. He wanted to reassure his followers. What could he say that would give them courage?
We read these words as we anticipate the Feast of the Ascension that we will celebrate next week. We realize that when Jesus ascended into heaven his disciples were probably afraid once again. We all know what it feels like to have someone give us new responsibility. Maybe we remember our first job. With our employment came obligations we never had before. Would we succeed or would we fail? The disciples felt the weight of leadership. The disciples believed that the church would succeed or fail because of their efforts alone.
But Jesus does not just walk away. He gave his disciples two gifts. One gift was the Holy Spirit, the paraclete. If the disciples would be willing to listen to the promptings of the Spirit, they would understand what they needed to do. We will reflect over the last two weeks of the Easter Season about what it means to follow the Spirit. We talk about what it means to be inspired by the Spirit in the liturgy each year.
The other gift Jesus talks about is not something that we think about very much. Jesus says he will leave his followers his Peace. What is that Peace like? How many of us feel like we live with a sense of peace as we go about our daily life? Many things happen that disturb our sense of wellbeing. How do we feel the peace Jesus talks about? The reality is that it is an ongoing project.
We believe peace comes from certainty. Maybe that is our problem. We try with all our might to weed all uncertainty out of our lives. We think for example if I have a big enough bank account that then we can relax. But we even it we save a few dollars, get our bills, paid, uncertainty remains. We always feel better if we just can save a little more. We might feel like if we can find significance in the eyes of others than peace will come to us. If other people, see us as important, if we have status then we will be satisfied. But we always like to have more influence. We want our children, for example, to live life according to our game plan. At times they may do that. At other times they do things that may disappoint us. We might think that if we have good health that we will find peace. But is there such a thing as health that lasts for a lifetime? When we least expect it, sickness strikes.
No, peace does not come from achieving certainty in our life. Peace comes from becoming comfortable living in uncertainty. Afterall, if we always had certainty in our life what would life be like? Life would, in the end, be rather dull. Each day would blend into the next. People who have all the answers are rather obnoxious aren’t they. People who are seekers are interesting. Usually they are also spiritually healthy.
What is a truly peaceful person like? An ancient story is told of a marauding warlord who came to a village. Everybody fled before him afraid for their lives. When the warlord arrived. He sneered and said, “I suppose everyone has run away.” “Well, there is one old monk from the local monastery who did not,” he was told. The warlord confronted the monk. “Do realize who I am? I can run you through with a sword and not bat an eye?” The old monk who had lived poverty, chastity and obedience his whole life replied, “Do you know who I am? I am he who can let you run me through with a sword and never bat an eye.”
That is perfect peace. When we realize that nothing has real power over us. When we realize that God’s love for us conquers even death itself. May the peace of Christ be with you this Easter day.