Sixth Sunday of Easter :C: May 25,2025

 JESUS PROMISES PEACE AND THE HOLY SPIRIT

Introduction: Everyone of us has our share of troubles and anxieties which rob us of that priceless gift - inner peace. When a person is not at peace with himself/herself, he or she can't have peace with others. Some people search for peace in material possessions, pleasures of the world or even drinks and drugs. Today, Jesus offers His peace to His disciples and us. He says: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Peace I leave with you; my  own peace I give you."

First Reading: Acts 15: 1 to 2 and 22 to 29

Second Reading: Apocalypse 21: 10 to 14 and 22 to 23

Gospel Reading: John 14: 23 to 29

   *First reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. The early Christian community faces many challenges regarding their faith in the Lord and the Jewish customs they have to accommodate with. The Apostles with the guidance of the Holy Spirit resolve them. Many Gentiles (non-Jews) accept the Lord Jesus as a result of the preaching of Paul and Barnabas. But they face a difficult question: How  much of the Mosaic law is applicable to the new converts? The first council of the Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit gives a far-reaching decision. The early Church decides that it is not the external circumcision that matters but rather, the internal disposition of the heart that really matters. 

   *Second reading is from the book of Apocalypse. A description of the new Jerusalem - the heavenly Church - in all its glory, where God's kingdom reigns in all its majesty and power is given. The imagery of the holy city of Jerusalem as the bride of the Lamb points to the heavenly origin of the Church. 

Jesus expresses His love for His disciples and promises them peace and the Holy Spirit                      Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. This is the final part of the farewell discourse of Jesus at the last supper. At the onset of the discourse, Jesus expresses His deep and abiding love for His beloved disciples. In turn they are asked to love Him by keeping His commandments. Then Jesus promises them the counsellor- the Holy Spirit - who will be sent by the Father. Jesus assures them that the Holy Spirit will teach them all things and bring them to remembrance all that He Himself taught them during His earthly life. Finally, Jesus promises them His peace. He firmly assures them that they are not to be afraid of anything or to be worried about anything because He going to the Father. Jesus' unshakeable faith in the Father is the basis and source of the promised peace. Jesus offers the same peace to everyone who follows Him. The peace of the risen Lord should strengthen us to face all challenges and opposition we face in this world. The peace that Jesus offers us is not the peace of escape from reality. It is the peace of a person who has overcome the unsettling realities of life. The peace Jesus offers is independent of outer circumstances. We cannot give this peace to others or have it with others, if we do not have it ourselves. Our inner state determines how we relate with the outside world and other persons. The risen Christ is the healer, the one who comes to bring us life and help us to clam our fears and heal our anguish and hatred. He can only bring us true peace. In this context Thomas Merton the great spiritual writer says: "If you yourself are at peace, then there is at least some peace in the world." M.K. Gandhi says: "When you find peace within yourself you become the kind of person who can live at peace with others." St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta says: "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."  May the risen Lord bless you with His peace that He alone can grant and may He send His Holy Spirit upon you to guide you  in this challenging world. Amen. 

(Kindly note: Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph is available on YouTube. Please view, like, share and subscribe to the video version on YouTube. "YouTube/Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph, May 25, 2025." Thanks.)