+ It is certainly not difficult to understand that two “parting-gifts” ought to be much
better than just one. Who would not want “a double dose of good things?” Today
Jesus is preparing the Apostles for his departure from them – very soon – by telling them now about
two very curious and interesting gifts that will be sent to them when he leaves:
the HOLY SPIRIT, and PEACE. Either would have been amazing
by themselves – but together they are a truly awesome jackpot of prizes!
It is his Death and Resurrection
that made possible the gift of the Spirit. Out of his pierced side as he hung
dead on the Cross flowed Blood and water – symbolizing the reality of the life-giving
Spirit that is now available to all; and, the risen Jesus “breathed” the Spirit
into the disciples with the words: “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
The
Holy Spirit, who will teach and remind us of everything that Jesus told us, is
the instrument of bringing about the peace
that Jesus promises to give. This kind of peace is not as the world gives
it, which is often merely the absence of warfare or conflict, something
illusory and transitory. Jesus, on the other hand, promises us God’s own peace,
a permanent and complete well-being and interpersonal harmony with God and with
one another. This Spirit of Peace, however, is the Spirit of Forgiveness: which
again makes it so very different from all other kinds of peace. And so it is
when we allow the given Holy Spirit of God to move us to enter into situations
and circumstances of experiencing the giving and receiving of forgiveness that we experience the true
and lasting peace that God wants us
to have.
No one is perfect, yet! Forgiveness
empowered and brokered by the Holy Spirit of God himself, must be a substantial
part of our Christian experience or we are missing out on a major portion of
it! Because we are baptized we are all called to be filled with peace and to be
peacemakers: let us joyfully take up this task and experience God, communion
with one another and peace among us, as we are intended to!
In the
first reading today we see the apostles and elders in Jerusalem acting as
peacemakers, invoking the Holy Spirit directly, to settle the dispute as to
whether Gentile converts to Christianity had first to become Jewish, if only
for a short while (because salvation must “come from the Jews”). The Holy Spirit himself made his intentions
known and it was not necessary
for this to happen. And, the deep peace of God resulted and the spread of
Christianity took a leap forward.
In the gospel passage Jesus
tells the disciples clearly that he was
to leave them in a short while, but that their hearts were not to be troubled or
afraid, for the promised gifts would be arriving soon! These combined gifts
of Spirit and Peace were for the early Church, and they are for us – if we want
them, if we ask for them, if we forgive (as we are forgiven). Let’s do it!
Whoever
loves me will keep my word, says the Lord, and my Father will love him and we
will come to him!
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