Gospel & Reflection for the Sixth Sunday of Easter.
John 14:23‐29
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘If anyone loves me he will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we shall come to him and make our home with him.
Those who do not love me do not keep my words.
And my word is not my own:
it is the word of the one who sent me.
I have said these things to you while still with you;
but the Advocate, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you everything
and remind you of all I have said to you.
Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you,
a peace the world cannot give,
this is my gift to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
You heard me say: I am going away, and shall return.
If you loved me you would have been glad to know that I am going to the Father,
for the Father is greater than I.
I have told you this now before it happens,
so that when it does happen you may believe.’
Reflection
Friends, during the early 1830’s, a Schoolmaster in eastern France was discouraged with one of his students. He wrote in his roll book that this student: “… is the smallest, meekest, the most unpromising boy in my class.” It is known and accepted that the boy, still in his early years, was not particularly academic, his interests were fishing and sketching. However, less than a century later, that meekest, smallest, most unpromising boy was selected by popular vote as one of the greatest Frenchmen ever to have lived. His name? Louis Pasteur, the founder of modern medicine. No one could have foretold, or should they have judged, what his potential was.
When he was seventy-three, Pasteur was honoured for all his genius accomplishments with a special ceremony in Paris, but he was too weak to attend. He sent his son in his stead and gave him a message to read. The message read: “Have faith that in the long run, the future belongs not to the conquerors but to the saviours of the world”. This reflected his belief that the world’s future is best shaped by those who dedicate themselves to improving the well-being of humanity, rather than focusing on force or domination. It reflected his entire life. Pasteur was driven by a great purpose, determined to work for the health of humanity more than anything else.
My name and yours, may never be household words as are Pasteur’s and many others, but we are asked, like such people, to allow our lives to be driven by a great purpose too. In our Gospel, Christ gives us not one but three certainties to propel and influence our lives with. He asks us to allow ourselves to be motivated and inspired by love, peace, and the Holy Spirit. If we, in even some small way, can allow our lives be shaped and inspired with those things, and witness to them in what we say and do, then we are working for the betterment of our world, and what is more, we are keeping God’s word because we are living by love and peace, infused in us by the presence of the Spirit.
Yet, to live in such a way and by such beliefs requires character and being people of character is required in our world now, more than ever before.
The self-considered conquerors, the Trump’s, Putin’s, and Netanyahu’s of this world have had their time, too much of it in truth. It is time for something better, more meaningful, more life-giving than life taking. It is time for people of true and meaningful character.
The character to stand up when everyone says to stay out of the way; to speak truth when everyone says to keep quiet; to treasure tested values and morals when everyone says that you are not with it. When as a society, our only response is to do what the rest of the world does just so we look modern and progressive, it requires character to stand before that society and defend our views, values, and faith that influenced them. More than ever, character is needed.
We might consider ourselves small, meek, unpromising but no can anticipate the difference even one act of character and faith can make in the world; the one difference we all can do. The world may not know our names, but God does, and He calls us by name to keep His word and follow His ways.
If we have the courage to do that, then we are giving the world more of what it needs and what it needs in great abundance right now – we give the world faith and character. We present people of love, peace and the Holy Spirit – and it would be wise for anyone not to judge too quickly the hidden potential there.
Fr. Richard
