6TH SUNDAY OF EASTER (YEAR C)

1st Reading             Acts 15: 1-2, 22-29

Psalm                        67: 2-3, 5, 6 and 8 (R. 4)

R:// "Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!"

2nd Reading          Revelation 21: 10-14, 22-23

Gospel                     John 14: 23-29

TRUE PEACE COMES FROM THE WORD OF GOD

Peace and Goodness, Beloved! Today, the 6th Sunday of Easter (Year C), the Gospel passage we have is from John 14: 23-29. Last Sunday, we got to know that Jn. 13-17 is Jesus' Farewell Discourse with his disciples. Our Gospel passage today is within that space; it is part of the Farewell Discourse. Why go back to those words of Jesus? Well, I think that the text today brings our minds to the fact that the Ascension of Jesus is near, and Jesus will soon depart from the world after his resurrection. In fact, Thursday is the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. Ascension is always 40 days after Easter. We should begin to have another Farewell Discourse with him before he ascends. His words prior to his death will suffice since they are his treasures to the disciples and to us.

Let us highlight a few details to widen our perspective about the Gospel passage for today. Before then, the context is clearly that Jesus is speaking, and Judas, not the Iscariot, asks a question: "Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world" (Jn. 14: 22). To this question, Jesus responds. 

The Gospel begins with Jesus' response by telling us that: "If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come and make our home with him" (Jn. 14: 23). Let us underline the word HOME. The Greek word translated as Home is Monē. Remember that in John 14:2, Jesus said, "In my Father's house are many ROOMS; if it not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?" The Greek word translated as Rooms is Monē. What Jesus is telling them in Jn. 14:2 is that he will prepare a room for them in his Father's house. However, today's text tells us that the Father's home will be the individual who loves Jesus and keeps his words. Invariably, the Home of the Father and the Son is the individual who loves and keeps Jesus' words. It is that individual the Lord prepares to be the dwelling of God. 

How is the dwelling of God like? We return to the Prologue of John (Jn. 1:1-14) and we find that "the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us" (Jn. 1:14). What does it mean to dwell? Let us resort to the original Greek to uncover that. The Greek word translated as dwelt is "Skenoo", and it simply means to "pitch one's tent". That surely reminds us about the Tabernacle as a Tent in the desert. This Tabernacle was the dwelling place of God for the Israelites in the desert during their journey to the Promised Land. The person who becomes the dwelling of God as a result of his love for Jesus and keeping his words becomes, therefore, a living sanctuary, a Temple, a Tabernacle for God. Why is that profound? In the Temple, not only are sacrifices made, but the LAW is read and studied. The words of Jesus are his commandments (the Law). Precisely, the individual becomes an abode for exemplifying the Law, the Word of God. Others can look at his example and see the Word of God. 

Beloved, to what extent are the words (or the commandments) of Jesus to be kept? The word "KEEP" is the Greek word TEREŌ, and it means guarding something with care, attention, and maintaining it in its original state. How do we do this if we do not know about it? To know would certainly start from hearing about something. Jesus precisely used the word HEAR, thus: "The word which you HEAR is not mine but the Father's who sent me" (Jn. 14: 24). The word "HEAR" is the Greek word AKOUŌ, and it involves a physical act of hearing and comprehension or a deeper understanding of what is heard. It is not enough merely hearing, for that will not constitute keeping the words. What completes it is obedience (Greek "hupakoē") to it. Interestingly, "Hupakoē" is made up of two Greek words: "Hupo", which means "beneath", and "akouō" which means "to hear". Obedience, therefore, is nothing other than submission ("going beneath") to what you hear, what you carefully guard, nurture, and give attention to. In this case, to become a living Temple of God is to submit to the words of Christ. 

The third and final detail is the granting of Peace. Before that, Jesus promised the Holy Spirit whom he referred to as "Counsellor". He will teach and bring to remembrance the very words of Jesus. The author used the Greek word "Paraclētos". That is certainly what we know the Holy Spirit to be — the Paraclete. Paraclētos is made up of two other Greek words: "para" (close beside) and "kaleō" (to call). This is someone called alongside or summoned. This is someone who gives a witness in a law court in someone's favour; a witness in defence. The Holy Spirit will walk beside you so that you do not forget the presence of Christ with you in times of adversity and moments of trial. It is the very words of Christ that will redeem you. It is not enough hearing the words of Christ. To faithfully obey them, you need the Holy Spirit to accompany you to be obedient to them, to submit to them. 

Let us now take the final detail. Jesus said: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give you" (Jn. 14: 27). Let us lay emphasis on the word "WORLD". The original Greek text has "KOSMOS". In John's Gospel, "kosmos" (world) is not the physical universe but the world as it has rebelled against God, the world that chooses darkness over light, the world that opposes the creator (Jn. 1:11). Darkness was the nature of the world before creation (Gen. 1:1). It is God's creation that gave it shape and completeness. The world that chooses darkness over light is not capable of finding completeness. The creation of God is complete because "God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was VERY GOOD" (Gen. 1:31). To be "VERY GOOD" is to possess the quality of PERFECTION and COMPLETENESS.

Completeness is precisely the meaning of Peace. The Hebrew word "Shalom" brings forth that understanding. It's Greek equivalent is "eirene". The Peace that the world opposed to God cannot give is because it still rejects and lacks the creative effort of God. To oppose God is to live in the state before creation, in darkness. It is to oppose newness. Peace is goodness of whatever sort — health, safety, prosperity, soundness, good standing with God and man. That Peace is gotten in the Word of God (the Law), the words of Christ. The LAW is read and studied in the Temple. You become a Temple, a Tabernacle, a dwelling of the Father and the Son when you love Christ, keep his Word, and allow the Holy Spirit to remind you of them. In you, the Temple or Tabernacle of God, the LAW is seen. Since true Peace comes from the Word of God, you cannot be left without experiencing peace, goodness of any kind.

Pax et Bonum