Scripture:
1st reading Acts 15:1-2, 22-29
2nd reading Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23
Gospel John 14: 23-29
In different parts of the world, the sign of peace exchanged before communion takes different forms. Americans generally like the handshake of peace and extend it to all within their reach. Kisses and hugs are also sometimes exchanged. I believe we do it all here.
Europeans are more reserved. In England, for example, a raised eyebrow or a slight inclination of the head seems enough. On the West African Coast the handshake is followed by much finger cracking; and this handshake is exchanged just by the men. In Northern Ghana, the celebrant waives his handkerchief to the entire congregation and they wave back, singing joyfully as they wave.
I mention this because this sign of peace, however it is given throughout the world, exemplifies today’s gospel, not once but twice. First, the direct quote from today’s gospel by the celebrant, Fr. Rick, during mass: “My peace I leave you, my peace I give to you!”, the words of Jesus. And secondly, the action of the Second Vatican Council, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, renewed this ancient custom of offering the sign of peace in the early 1960’s.
What is this peace but the peace of God, his Spirit in us. It is not the function of the Spirit to initiate new revelations but to unfold new understandings, interpretations, and applications of the once-and-for-all revelation of Jesus Christ. Jesus in our gospel today from John, expected his followers to live by the enlightenment of the Living Spirit after he was no longer bodily among them.
This work of the Spirit centers on the creation of God’s peace—peace within the Universal Church, peace within the various communities, peace in families, and peace in each of us as individuals. Only in the person of the Holy Spirit could Jesus overcome the limits he took on himself in becoming flesh, in becoming man. Now, in complete communion with the Father, the risen and ascended Jesus can penetrate the innermost hearts of the individual disciple, groups of disciples, of all the Church, to include you and me, whether we offer the sign of peace by a handshake, kiss or hug, whether we raise an eyebrow, inclining the head, crack our fingers, whether we wave back as the celebrant waives his handkerchief.
The Holy Spirit liberated Jesus from relating to the disciples at only one time , or only one place. Through the Spirit Jesus can draw all of humanity to himself. The Spirit completes the work of Jesus in you and me, here and now.
It is useless to cling to the past as though Faith is something that could be learned entirely by memory. To have faith in the Living Spirit also means to expect confidently, to be guided into a deeper understanding and clearer vision of who we are as Christians.
We help the Spirit achieve this in us by living our faith on our sleeves. How do we live our faith on our sleeves; By daily prayer, by the reading of Holy Scripture (That means pulling the bible off the top shelf of the closet, blowing off the dust, and opening its pages) by receiving the sacraments often, to live the gospel message in our communities; getting the strength to do this by attending mass at least on Sunday’s and Holy days of obligation, where Jesus gives us himself in the Eucharist.
We are a very inventive species. We can come up with all kinds of excuses why we cannot do these things. However, I can attest that I have come up with some myself in the past, and I know there are very few reasons why we cannot. Here is a couple excuses I have heard about attending mass:
“I have to fix my brothers car”. “We are going on a trip (as if there parish is the only one anywhere)” and the one that got me the most is “We are going to Ocean Shores for the weekend”. I thought “Funny, as you drive down the 2 mile stretch before you are in Ocean Shores proper, you pass St. Jerome Catholic Church”. Go figure!!!!!
This is not what Jesus wants or expects from us. Like those of the past, Jesus wants us to be like Him, always remembering to give time to the Father who has given us so much, especially His Son.
The first reading today from Acts seems a concrete application of
the Spirits influence on our lives. Without any explicit teaching of Jesus, the young community, under the guidance of the Spirit, made a decision that set the infant Church on a new course. They seemed to be moved by two considerations, freedom under the Spirit, and peace in the community.
This same kind of confidence is expressed in the second reading from Revelation where God tells us that the gift of the New Jerusalem—the Kingdom of God, is brand new. It is a gift from God. We cannot earn it, but we can, by the grace of God, live as if we had it by doing God’s will to create the climate for the Spirit to bring this Kingdom to us.
Christ intended for all of us to experience the same place of heart he gave his disciples in today’s gospel. We cannot completely achieve the peace of the Kingdom of God here on earth, because through our humanity we are weak, imperfect, fragile. However we can achieve a measure of it by living in and through our faith with the Holy Spirit as our Paraclete, our guide, our partner.
Each of us struggle to do God’s will but we know that his will brings his reign and peace to us as individuals, as families, as a parish, so that when we are called to His Kingdom in Heaven, we will be ready for that call.
I ask for your prayers for those who have opened their hearts and have prepared their souls to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit as they receive their Confirmation this coming Wednesday night. May the Holy Spirit guide them on their journey’s and may the Spirit continue to guide and nurture all of us.
I leave you with this chant, this prayer, that was used at Taize last Wednesday night and I know that this is your prayer also:
Take, Oh take me as I am;
Summon out what I shall be.
Set your seal upon my heart;
And live in me.”
Peace be with and in you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!