When It Happens

[A reflection on the Gospel for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, May 25, 2025, the readings for which can be found by clicking this link: Easter 6c]

Jesus Christ our Lord had a great propensity for confusing His disciples, at least initially. Many times He would have to explain parables or clarify teachings which left them perplexed or troubled, and quite possibly slightly irritable. Often we could tell He was reading the room when He would say, "Let not your hearts be troubled," as in today's reading.

Here, Jesus is still speaking about going away to be with the Father, a place where His disciples could not yet come. They were understandably perturbed and quite not getting the explanations and metaphors He offered to clarify. For example, He tells them that although He has gone away He and the Father would both come and make their home with all who love Him and keep His word. So here Jesus has just told the disciples that He is going away but not to worry because He and the Father would make their home with them. Perhaps they were hung up on the perceived paradox, not quite getting how someone could be away but still there. Sensing the confusion, the Lord proceeded further.

"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." (Jn. 14.26) In this one statement Our Lord gives the clue on how the indwelling of God is to begin and to grow. What Jesus told Nicodemus about the second birth with the indwelling of the Spirit (Jn. 3.5-8), and Photini the Samaritan Woman about the Spirit as streams of living water (Jn. 4.14) comes full-circle here. The Holy Spirit of God, united perfectly with the Father and the Son in Being and Nature and Will, shall come to those who trust Jesus and practice what He taught so that by indwelling them will also by this perfect union bring the Father and the Son together with Him.

So it is with us some two thousand years later. The promise to the disciples extends to us. The wind of the Spirit, the streams of living water will bring with them also the presence and company of Jesus and the Father, It is up to us to accept that love by conforming to that love, to indwell the heart of that love and fully to embrace the Kingdom of God and all for which it stands. Let not our hearts be troubled, neither let us be afraid, instead, let us abide in His love and the Spirit will keep us in that love.