My Peace I give to you!

Listening to the Spirit

Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
enlighten our minds to perceive the mysteries of the universe in relation to eternity.

Spirit of right judgment and courage,
guide us and make us firm in our baptismal decision to follow Jesus' way of love.

Spirit of knowledge and reverence,
help us to see the lasting value of justice and mercy in our everyday dealings with one another.

May we respect life as we work to solve problems of family and nation, economy and ecology.

Spirit of God,
spark our faith, hope, and love into new action each day.

Fill our lives with wonder and awe in your presence which penetrates all creation.

Amen.

Listening to the Word

John 14:23-29

Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

“I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe.

Reflection

Some days ago, a person told me that because of his serious commitment for the poor, looking for justice and the common good, he was being threatened and asked to stop his enterprise. When I heard his story, I tried to encourage him knowing that is doing something great in the eyes of God and of so many poor people.

“Do not be troubled! Do not be afraid! My Peace I give to you.” These words of Jesus, that we have just listened in the Gospel of this 6^th Sunday of Easter season, may bring to him consolation and may they give to him new vigor in his initiative.

In this moment of our life maybe there is something scaring us, burdening us, something that we can not completely understand, something out of our control. In front of this situation, a voice from within is telling us: “Do not be troubled! Do not be afraid! My Peace I give to you.”

This is a word from the Lord telling us that He knows our situation, he knows our fears, he knows what is troubling us, and He is concerned with us, He does not forget us, He has a word for us “…my Peace I leave with you.” May our response be: “Jesus grant us your peace, give us the strength to face our fears, to overcome our fragilities…”

And Jesus continues: “Not only my Peace…I leave to you a Helper…the Holy Spirit.” God, Jesus does not leave us alone. He grants us the Holy Spirit. Do we remember to ask the gift of the Holy Spirit to God every day? The Holy Spirit is the Gift of the Father and of the Son so that we can continue our journey without fear. We realize that we are led by Him in our daily actions, that He gives us the right thoughts and the right words in the different circumstances of life. For this reason, it is our desire to ask the gift of the Holy Spirit:

I share with you the prayer that I like more asking the gift of the Holy Spirit daily:

“Come Holy Spirit and change my heart and the heart of the world.
Renew them and make them able to love as you love.
Come Spirit of Love and enlighten the roads of peace and of reconciliation among the people.
Come for the poor, for those who are crying, and for those who are hungry and thirsty of justice.
Come Spirit of Life and enlighten in the hearts of the youth the desire to serve you. Grant us your grace so that we can be the builders of your Kingdom.
Come Holy Spirit.”
Let us ask always the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Lord is happy to grant Him to us!