“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” – John 14:27
This passage from John’s Gospel, which we will hear on Sunday, is part of Jesus’ farewell to his disciples on the night before his imminent death. Jesus’ concern is for the disciples rather than himself, and he reassures them that they will not be alone. He promises them peace, offering hope not only to his immediate disciples but also to all who love him and keep his word. As we listen, Jesus teaches the disciples about what will happen after he leaves them. God will send an advocate, the Holy Spirit, who will do two things: teach and remind.
The Holy Spirit teaches us how God desires to give us the good things we need, even when we don’t know what they are or how to ask for them. It reminds us, especially when things are not going well, of what really matters and to whom we belong.
We don’t have to look far to find examples of things not going well. Last Friday’s devastating EF3 tornado killed at least five people, injured dozens, and left an untold number of homes uninhabitable. Over 170 utility poles were broken, leaving some 164,000 Ameren customers without power. As of this writing, approximately 20 percent of those affected still have no power. This raises the difficult question: Why does a benevolent and omnipotent God allow bad things to happen? It is beyond human comprehension and leaves many of us frightened.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”
It has often been said that tragedy has a powerful way of uniting people. I’m not just talking about first responders or the faith community. Throughout this tragedy, we have witnessed an increase in kindness and generosity from all walks of life. People are stepping up to donate needed supplies, showing up to help clear debris, and preparing and delivering meals—not only to victims but also to volunteers. The outpouring of support is incredible and humbling.
The peace Jesus speaks of endures today. So do hope, faith, love, fellowship, wisdom, and courage. God gives us these gifts through the Holy Spirit, and God also gives us the ability to find them in others. The world is full of them, though they are often masked by our focus on the news of anger and darkness.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”
As Jesus prepares for his journey to return to the Father, he leaves behind the Holy Spirit to teach and remind us. Perhaps it time for us to prepare for our own journey into the world—living in faith, hope, and expectation, knowing that the results may not be what we asked for, but reminded that God is always with us.
Amen.
The Rev. Deacon Loretta Go