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In today’s Gospel Story (John 14:23-29) Jesus says, “Whoever loves me will keep my word”, and, “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you”, and, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you.. .  .  Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid”. These words pretty much sum up what we are called to as followers of Jesus — a journey of ongoing and continual conversion. They can be as personal as we want them to be, or not.

From the majority report perspective we all know the “big things” that Jesus teaches us because in various forms they are a lot in the headlines these days. It is easy to point to others, whether governments or organizations, when we feel they are working against Jesus’ words. We also come across some pretty creative ways of saying they don’t apply in given sets of circumstances. There are growing attempts by different religious groups to have their particular understanding of Jesus’ words be imposed on everybody else by getting them enshrined as public laws.

The minority report, what this passage says to any of us in our life, in our specific circumstances, can be different, because it is deeply personal if I let it. In given situations Jesus’ word is not always clear to me and I’m not sure what it means. At these times I need prayerfully to look at my life, ask for guidance, and go where this takes me. The Spirit really does teach me when I am open to Her. Doubting and wondering are important parts of my journey because rarely is there absolute certainty. Jesus doesn’t call me to know. He asks me to trust and go where this takes me.

Jesus says “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you”. This really happens in my life, if I let it. This takes a certain amount of willing openness, and not a little trust. There is a style of prayer that is becoming very popular these days simply because it is so impactful when I let it. It’s called the Welcoming Prayer. Basically, it says, “Lord, I welcome everything that is coming into my life today simply because it is of You”. In its own way it is an act of trust that Jesus is, in fact, sending to me in my everyday life, the Holy Spirit, who will teach  me and remind me of all that he said. This leads me to a different way of looking at the people and events in my every day living. This definitely is an ongoing journey. 

From time to time we probably have noticed that when our plans for something fall through for whatever reason,  some things happened that needed to happen, even though we didn’t now it it the time. This past week while I was on the treadmill I felt some strong discomfort, and it dawned on me that maybe I had forgotten to take the second part of my morning meds, and I felt it, not a nice feeling. I left the gym early after only a brief workout, and unexpectedly encountered several people who needed what little I could offer in their situations. The whole morning was like that. If I had not forgotten to take my meds, who knows. . .? I certainly don’t. Not long ago I would have been extremely annoyed at everything, probably for the entire day. I really believe God, Abba, is a verb, somehow in everything that happens in my life. The experience of the Welcoming Prayer has a strong impact on my days. Jesus says often throughout the Gospels, “Peace be with you”, and “do not be afraid”. He also says, “the word you hear is not mine, but that of the Father who sent me”. It is Abba who is telling me to live in peace with all that is in my life, not to be afraid for any reason, and be ready and open to the Spirit showing me how to live as Jesus’ disciple in my own circumstances. How well I listen is up to me. “Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid”. This is hard to do. World events, ordinary living annoyances, health issues, etc. Every day is a chance to say “yes” and to grow. It’s up to me how I do this, or don’t. I have a lot of power here. Whether any day is a good day is my choice.

The Spirit is always teaching, often in very particular circumstances and in unexpected ways, but it is my choice to be open to her or not. Pope Leo sees our role is to be open to the Spirit and willing to do what She calls us to do. So often I complicate a wonderful mystery of Abba being in everything when I set conditions under which I will or will not accept what does not fit with how I want things to be. I can choose not to grow, and want to keep things as they are. Yet the grace of Abba being in me continues. It’s like this with all of us. Abba does not ever leave us. Yet, I cannot force my experience of Abba on others, and vice versa.

Pope Leo sees peace and grace as important themes of his ministry – peace for everyone without exception, and grace becoming a lived experience for all of us. One way to look at grace is Abba’s love happening in and around us. Grace is not something we get more of, like putting gas in the car. It is a reality that we come to experience and live in, of Abba being real and with us in every part of our life. We can’t earn grace, and we can’t lose grace. We can say yes or no. But Abba does not stop being Abba because we don’t agree with what he is doing. We simply close ourselves off, but Abba is always with us, patiently waiting. Think of the Parable of the Prodigal Son..

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you.” Peace is not about power or control. Peace happens deep inside each of us, and stems from our believing, even experiencing, that in the commotions and stuff of our everyday living we are not alone. I don’t need to control everything happening around me. Getting my own way is overrated. I don’t have to call others names or make them seem less than me, which is so common these days. Grace gives me the opportunity to respect others as they are and as they see themselves. Welcoming everything in my life because it is of Abba brings peace and freedom, and is a consequence of my letting Abba happen in my life. Everyone in my life has the right and the need to be in my life as they are, because in the providence of Abba, we need each other.  Just sayin . . .