Sixth Sunday of Lent: Jn 14:23-29
Jesus said to his disciples: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words, yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me.
“I have told you this while I am with you. 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. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you,
‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe.”
Quote
“Those who go stay, those who stay go.” ~ St. Francis de Sales
Reflection
In today’s Gospel, Jesus is telling his disciples that he will soon be leaving them. Yet, though he will be physically gone, he will still be with them because he will send them his spirit. Another way to think about this is that Jesus is giving them his presence and he will always be with them.
When someone whom we love leaves us, we too have the opportunity to receive their spirit — their presence — in a new and different way. They may be gone, but not forgotten and over time we can discern their continued presence in our lives in ways that we may never have imagined. In this way, they like the Spirit, are always with us.
Pastor, Holy Family Parish - Adrian, MI
