Tuesday of the
Fifth Week of Easter
May 12th
READING: John 14: 27-31
‘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. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me; but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us be on our way ...'
~~~
New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
REFLECTION
First, we might start with peace. It cannot be said too often: peace is not the absence of war, but the presence of justice. This applies at a global scale. There has never been a time devoid of war, since out great-great forebears crawled out of the swamp and fought each other for the best bit of dead matter. To that extent the peace that Paul calls “the peace that passes understanding,” and Jesus calls “peace … not as the world gives,” is a “not yet” dimension of human experience. As we watch Covid-19 continue its rampage around the globe we may note that, while some of the ostensibly poorer nations may have been less smitten than so-called “global north” nations, nevertheless its talons cling more easily were poverty denies citizens of the earth the basic necessities of clean, running water, sanitation and hygiene. The Singapore experience (see, e.g.,) in particular serves as an obscene reminder that the have-nots are often the sacrificial lambs in public policy .
There is, too, the question of inner peace. Eastern religions should not be disparaged for teaching us, particularly in the last century, that we cannot proclaim genuine lasting peace if we are war-torn within. Again, our country’s obscene suicide rates (which may rise still further in the face of the inevitable economic fall-out of pandemic) reflects a deeply dis-eased human condition. Those who have stared into dark abysses know what lonely places the precipices are.
Jesus concludes his long discourse by turning beyond himself. In passing he refers to “the ruler of this world.” I fluctuate in my understanding of the Satan, the Tempter. We often, especially in fundamentalist circles, slip into language that sounds awfully like an unconcluded tug of war between Good God and Bad Devil. I am not entirely convinced, yet nor would I dismiss the fierce nature of evil. Ultimately, with perhaps a touch of Jungian psychology, I tend to think of the devil as “the radical (or tangible) absence of God,” despite Psalm 139:8. There may be no place where God is not, but we can sure turn our back on God, love, light, and choose darkness. Choose this day who you will serve (Josh. 24:15).[1]
Jesus then underscores his entire message once again: see me, see my love, see the extent of my love (which the disciples were yet to see) and then you see all that you need to know of God the Creator of All. “I love,” Jesus effectively says, “because love is the essence of God.” John will make that clearer still in his letters (1 John 4: 7-9).
Then Jesus invites those who will to follow him … “rise, let us be on our way.”
[1] That’s complex, too: I do not for a moment think that those who tragically end their own lives have “chosen darkness …”. Those weights are sometime too hard to bear. Please: however great the pain, however hard it is to reach for the phone, please know that there is always help and hope:
National helplines (NZ only)
Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor
Lifeline – 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) or free text 4357 (HELP)
Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
Healthline – 0800 611 116
No comments:
Post a Comment