We
are afraid of the unknown. Scared when we go to the doctors and they recommend
a test: Mammogram, MRI, Sonogram, CAT-scan or they like. What will the
diagnoses be? Will it affect my life adversely? What would happen to my love
ones? When there is a conflict in my life, how do I deal with it? What about my
financial wellbeing? Have I saved enough for the raining days? What about my
mortgage? Will I be able to keep up with the payments on my house, my car, my
children’s education or my utilities? These questions and worries only succeed
in doing one thing to us: deprive us of our inner peace and throw our life into
confusion. Therefore, Christ warns us not to be anxious, saying, "What shall
we eat? Or what shall we drink?…But seek first the kingdom of God and his
justice, and all these things will be given you besides” (Mt. 6:31-34).
The
readings of the 6th Sunday of Easter assure us that we are not
alone in our quest for peace. Jesus’ disciples were equally worried. Christ
knew that his followers would be thrown into a gamut of worries and confusion
as he was about to demonstrate his love for us by accepting death on the cross.
He encouraged them not to let their hearts be troubled but pleaded that they
put their trust in God. After his resurrection, Christ knew he would soon go to
his father. His Ascension was fast approaching, hence, he assured them of his
peace and promised them the gift of the Holy Spirit.
In
the first reading we read that life among early Christians was not always rosy
and without problems. As Paul and Barnabas took the Gospel and the message of
salvation to the Gentiles and as they embraced the faith problems began to
surface. Some brothers demanded that the Gentiles should observe and obey the Jewish
laws and practices - be circumcised. This caused a rift among the Apostles and
the converts to the faith. To solve this problem, Paul reported to the Apostles
and the first official Council of the Church was convened – the Council of
Jerusalem. The Apostles trusted themselves to the guidance of the Holy Spirit
and listened to each other. “Then the whole meeting quieted down and listened
while Barnabas and Paul told of the great signs and wonders that God had done
among the Gentiles through them” (Acts 15:12). “For the Holy Spirit and we have
decided…” (verse 28).
How
often do we allow ourselves to be torn apart by anxieties, indifferences,
idiosyncrasies, families, ideas and a sense of Church that make us pitch a tent
only on one side and feel that we are better than others? When we take a stand
and fail to pursue the unity of the Church or refuse to concede our positions,
are we not tearing the body of Christ apart? When we feel that we are the
standard of judgement and fail to consider the good of our brothers and
sisters, are we not sinning against charity and the very God we sought to serve?
St. Paul admonished: “But if you bite and devour one another, take heed or you
will be consumed by one another” (Gal. 5:15).
We
will always be disappointed by the Church, parish, families and our communities.
A tension-free church and society is not possible in this world but in the
world of the second reading, where there will be a new heaven and new earth.
How do we solve the problems and heal the divides in our lives? The Church has
always found a way to call people together for a dialogue - a listening session
and give the Holy Spirit room to function; to facilitate the healing and
proffer solutions. Such was the case in the first reading with the Council of
Jerusalem. The solution was attributed to the efforts of the participants and
the Holy Spirit.
And
so, Jesus promised the Apostles the gift of the Holy Spirit. He tells them not
to be afraid. He gives us a counselor, a friend and an advocate who will plead
on our behalf. Christ cares for us so much that he wants to spare us any angst
and anxiety. “Do not let your hearts be troubled”, he says, “but put your trust
in God”. In the midst of our disappointments, pains, fear and trepidation,
Christ promises us his presence. “It is I, do not be afraid” (Mt. 14:27). The Holy Spirit will always be there to steer
the ship to the shore of peace and tranquility. Even when we have sinned, the
Holy Spirit will be there to get us back up again. In our prayer, the Holy
Spirit will be there to lend support. “For we do not know what we should pray
for as we ought but the Spirit himself pleads for us with unutterable groaning”
(Rom. 8:26).
With
the Holy Spirit comes peace. This peace is not the absence of war, “It is”,
according to Baruch Spinoza, “a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition of
benevolence, confidence, justice”. It is the presence of Christ working in his
people, it is a life lived in God. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If
anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with
him, and he with me” (Rev. 3:20). The peace promised by Christ is an indicative
of an indwelling of the Trinity in the life of a Christian. This is a life
lived in absolute surrender to the will of God. And so, Christ said that the
peace he gives is different from the peace given us by the world.
Let
us pray at this Mass for the gifts of Peace and the Holy Spirit. May the
Eucharist that we celebrate lead us to discover the Lord of peace. May it give
us the gift of the Holy Spirit who will lead us to all truths. Let us learn to
agree to disagree but still keep the unity of God’s children. May the Spirit
help us to settle our differences and know that our strength is not in our
failures but in our ability to get back up each time we fail. In his mighty
name we pray! Amen.
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