Sixth Sunday of Easter
Bishop of Lake Charles
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
May 9, 2010
Sixth Sunday of Easter
“Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27
Today is Mother’s Day, and I am reminded of my grandmother. For many years, as she was growing up in the late 19th century, her father would give her a coin for each birthday or anniversary. Over the years my grandmother had several of these coins, until the Depression of 1929. After this, she sold them or gave them away as gifts, until finally she had only one left. She cherished it and kept it close to her at all times. One month before I was ordained a priest, she died and left the coin to me. It is one of my most prized possessions.
In the Gospel today Jesus speaks his final words at the Last Supper to His beloved disciples. As with anyone on the night before he knows he is going to die, the words of Jesus take on special significance. Jesus tells them that He is going away. What will He leave them as His memento? This is what Jesus says: “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” (John 14:27).
“Peace” is his legacy to us. For this reason, we are not to be afraid. We should not fear because the Father will send the “Advocate, the Holy Spirit” (John 14:26). This “Advocate… will teach [us] everything and remind [us] of all that [Jesus] told [us]” (John 14:26).
Just as a beloved grandmother can leave us a prized coin on her death bed, Jesus leaves us an infinitely more valuable gift. Peace is possible because the Holy Spirit assures us of that peace. This peace is a peace like no other that the world can give (John 14:27). Our hearts are so prone to fear and anxiety. Yet, Jesus tells us not to be afraid. We are to trust. We are to hope. These are the fruits of that peace that the world cannot give.
When someone leaves us something precious, we cherish it and keep it in a special place. It remains a constant reminder of their love. We take this heirloom out, admire it, and in some mysterious way it communicates to us and to us alone a message of an abiding presence. With an earthly heirloom, when we die, it will be sold at a garage sale or antique shop. However, if there is family left behind, we bequeath the heirloom to someone in the family who will prize it at least as much as we did. So it is with the “peace” that Jesus left us.
This peace cannot be sold or traded. There is family to whom it is bequeathed. That family is the Church, and the Holy Spirit is the pledge of its endurance.
During this time of year, we are celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation. In this special sacrament, the gift of the Holy Spirit is given to young men and women of our diocese. The Holy Spirit gives to them a sanctifying grace that incorporates them more fully into the Body of Christ, which is the Church. This grace also enables them to witness, teach and defend the faith that they are professing. They are not to be afraid as they face life’s challenges. Peace is the gift that Christ gives to them.
I encouraged the young men and women being confirmed that they were to remain faithful to the practice of their faith. I told them that faith and life are intimately connected. Many try to separate them, but for the Christian they are vitally linked. Faith is meant to be lived, because faith has consequences. And when faith is lived, when it is practiced, we are ever aware of God’s abiding presence in Jesus Christ, our Lord. That awareness is a grace, and in each sacramental celebration God bequeaths to us a precious heirloom from His Son. To us He says, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him” (John 14:23).