Easter VI: Acts 15:1-2, 22-29; Rv 21:10-14, 22-23; Jn 14:23-29

A story is told that after Helen Keller’s teacher, Annie Sullivan, had given her the names of physical objects in sign language, Miss Sullivan attempted to explain God and tapped out the symbols for the name “God.” Much to Miss Sullivan’s surprise, Helen spelled back, “Thank you for telling me God’s name, Teacher, for He has touched me many times before.” How could Helen Keller have known about God? Although she was blind and deaf, Helen Keller knew God, for God had shown Himself to her. That is the “revelation” of an indwelling God about whom today’s Scripture readings speak.   

The Holy Spirit abiding within us is our teacher and the Source of all peace.   Jesus tells us that the one thing in life which we can always trust is God’s presence. God inhabits our hearts so deeply and intimately that we become the visible dwelling place of God. 

Jesus affirms that even though He will no longer be visibly with them, he will continue to be present among them through the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit of truth will continue teaching them and helping them to understand and to build on what Jesus has already taught them.  The Advocate will bring no new revelation because God has already revealed Himself in Jesus.  But the Advocate will deepen their understanding of the revelation given by Jesus.

The Holy Spirit is the abiding love of God available to us, enabling us to accept the friendship of Jesus, while imitating Him.   In this Love, the Triune God, comes and lives in us, takes up residence in us and lives in our body. When God’s love lives in us, and we live in Him, there is much more peace in our families, our Churches, our offices. It is the abiding presence of God within us that enables us to face the future with undying hope and true Christian courage.  The Holy Spirit, sent upon the Church by the Father at the request of the risen Lord, prompts us to turn to His Holy Scriptures for support and encouragement, enables us to learn the Divine truths, and grants us His peace at all times. 

During this discourse which happens during his last meal with his closest followers, Jesus offers them a parting gift. His Peace. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you." And what does he mean by peace? Not what we usually think: "Not as the world gives do I give it to you." Christ's peace is lasting. It is interior peace of heart, which overflows into peace in families, in communities, in entire nations.

 The philosopher Schopenhauer once compared us to a Bulldog Ant. If we cut a Bulldog Ant in half, the front and rear segments will enter into a savage fight. The head will seize the tail with its teeth, while the tail will sting the head with fury. The fight might last for hours. That is the way some of us are on the inside. There is part of us that wants to move ahead and a part that wants to stand absolutely still. There is a part of us that wants success and recognition. There is another part that wants to sit on the river bank and while away the hours. There is a part of us that wants to serve Christ. There is another part that says, “No, I’ve enough to do right now; let someone else take their turn.” There is a fierce battle going on within many of us. Few of us know what it is to live lives of contentment and peace. Jesus said to his disciples, “I am leaving you with a gift — peace of mind and heart! And the peace I give isn’t fragile like the peace the world gives.

It is the peace that comes from knowing without any doubt whatsoever that we are loved by him, that whenever we offend him, he will always be ready to forgive us. Only because Christ has given us this peace, by giving us faith in his love, and mercy, he can command us: "Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid."  If our peace were based on anything else: popularity, wealth, comfort, or power, it would be unstable, because all those things are vulnerable to change.

When life's storms come, we know where to go. We know that Christ is here for us. We can turn to him in prayer. We can experience him in the Eucharist and in confession. We can run to his Mother, Mary, the Queen of Peace. But so many people around us never experience this peace. They don't know where to go.

Today, when Jesus comes to renew his commitment to us,  let's renew our commitment to being messengers of his peace. After all, he's the one who told us: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." (Mt 5:9). May the indwelling presence of triune God in our hearts control every aspect of our life and give us peace every day of our lives.