(Audio)
Now we realize that you know everything
and that you do not need to have anyone question you.
Because of this we believe that you came from God.
We should be careful when we think we have Jesus figured out. Even though our understanding may be correct it is still an open question as to whether it can guide us when things get tough.
Jesus answered them, “Do you believe now?
Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived
when each of you will be scattered to his own home
and you will leave me alone.
They accepted that Jesus knew everything and came from God. But when this belief of theirs encountered the specific circumstance of his suffering and death it proved inadequate. It wasn't a wrong belief. It was just partial. They had to learn it was still true even when they themselves proved to be weak and faithless. They had to learn that the Father was with Jesus even in spite of all appearances to the contrary. He told the disciples he had conquered the world just before the moments when it seemed that the world had most certainly conquered him.
But I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.
Later the disciples no doubt felt great remorse for their fear and lack of faith that let them be scattered when Jesus was arrested, tortured, and killed. But they had these words he had given them which now took on their full meaning, "I am not alone, because the Father is with me." They were able to see in these words a way to peace even in spite of their own betrayals, a way to peace that no circumstance could henceforth overwhelm.
I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.
In the world you will have trouble,
but take courage, I have conquered the world.
Jesus guides us in ways that seem mysterious at first. We never know as much as we think we do. We often fail and sin even when we technically 'know better.' This does not surprise Jesus. He doesn't need to reformulate his perfect plans for us when we make mistakes. The plan Jesus has for us makes use of our failures. It makes use of our sufferings. The troubles we have in the world help us learn what it means that the Father with Jesus, not just sometimes, but always. We learn that the truth that Jesus has overcome the world is still true even when we face trouble. The more we learn the truth of this victory, its unshakeable nature, and the fact that it doesn't finally depend on our perfection, the more we share in it ourselves.
Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (see First John 4:4).
The one who has overcome the world is in us in a way that he was not yet in the disciples in today's Gospel reading. He has sent his Holy Spirit into our hearts. This indwelling allows us to share in and live his victory in a new and more powerful way.
He said to them,
“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?”
The Sacramental life of the Church is so essential because it is the normative gateway to life in the Spirit. But even after we have been baptized and confirmed it is still vital that we fan into flames the gift we have been given (see Second Timothy 1:6). To neglect and not avail ourselves of the gifts we have been given eventually results in allowing ourselves to be scattered and overcome. Yet the promise of Jesus that he has overcome the world remains even then.
We are more united to Jesus than the disciples when they were scattered. More so than them, our own weakness can serve to reveal the power of God. When we fail to walk by the Spirit let us see it as a call and an invitation to return to the one who is always with the Father, an invitation back to the victory Jesus won for us. When we fail we are so close to mercy and restoration that we can learn walk by the power of his victory even in spite of our weakness. We become less and less disturbed by the flaws in ourselves and more and more ready to come quickly to Jesus for mercy.
Let us therefore open our hearts to the receive more of the Holy Spirit today and as we draw closer to Pentecost.
And when Paul laid his hands on them,
the Holy Spirit came upon them,
and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
Altogether there were about twelve men.
The Holy Spirit is the way by which the presence and victory of Jesus can fill our own lives. He is able to be in us and do his work even in spite of our mistakes, even in the very moments when we are scattered. This becomes more true as we welcome him. And there is no upward limit on how much we can receive.
God gives a home to the forsaken;
he leads forth prisoners to prosperity.
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