5 May 2013 - teaching peace

5 May 2013 - teaching peace

May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.

The reveals his way to us.  This is a huge blessing and not a burden.  He is love itself.  When the face of love shines upon us it teaches us the way of love just as a good parent does.  The way of love shows other ways to be lacking but it does not show this for the sake of condemnation.  It is revealed so that everyone might know the salvation it entails.

The LORD leaves the Holy Spirit for the Church to ensure that we remember everything Jesus teaches us, all of which is fundamentally about love.

The Advocate, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you.

The Spirit acts within the structure of the Church to keep us in the truth.

‘It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us

This keeps us from being shaken and upset by false teachings.

Since we have heard that some of our number
who went out without any mandate from us
have upset you with their teachings
and disturbed your peace of mind,

He thereby protect the peace which comes from Jesus and the truth he teaches us.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give it to you.

The truth he teaches points to something beyond worldly happiness which is a transient ebb and flow.  He is able to offer us peace because he has something unfading and permanent to give us.

I saw no temple in the city
for its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb.
The city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it,
for the glory of God gave it light,
and its lamp was the Lamb.

It is a beautiful city which moth and rust will not destroy.  It can never be shaken.

May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!