May
1, 2016
6th Sunday
of Easter
Acts
15:1-2, 22-29; Psalm 67; Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23; John 14:23-29
I remember
reading this interesting fact that scientists have discovered the effect of a
tiger’s loud roar on other animals. The unique sound waves of a tiger’s
terrifying roar can temporarily paralyze its prey with fear. So even if you have
time to escape and avoid the tiger running after you, the tiger’s roar paralyzes
you with fear so that you become its victim.
My brothers and
sisters, our fears often operate in the same way. Our fears can paralyze us to
the point that we cannot move on anymore. This is why Jesus in today’s gospel
tells his disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Do not be afraid.”
Don’t let fear paralyze you into inactivity. But why were his disciples afraid?
Where is this fear coming from? What will Jesus give to them so that they may
overcome their fear?
Let
us reflect on these in three points:
THE
DISCIPLES WERE AFRAID OF JESUS LEAVING THEM. As we look forward to Jesus ascending
into heaven next Sunday, the disciples were saddened and afraid when Jesus told
them “I am going away.” They have gotten used to being with Jesus all the time:
listening to his teachings and witnessing his miracles. Perhaps they were
telling Jesus, “Isn’t it that you rose from the dead to be with us? Then why
are you leaving us again?” Notice the deep desire and longing of the disciples
to be with Jesus. Remember that they were guilty of leaving Jesus at the moment
of his passion and death on the cross. They know how empty life could be
without Jesus. That is why when Jesus rose again from the dead and appeared to
them, they recognized the mistake they have done and all they want now is to be
with Jesus.
These past days,
we have seen how our candidates for the coming elections are aspiring and
longing to win the elections. But how many of them also have that deep desire
and longing for the Lord? How many of us actually long for the Lord? Like the
experience of the disciples, may
we all realize how empty, how meaningless life could be without Jesus. Jesus
will have to leave his disciples to go to the Father in heaven. But He will
give us another gift of his presence. What is that gift?
JESUS
WILL SEND THE HOLY SPIRIT TO ASSURE THEM OF HIS PRESENCE. The
irony is that Jesus had to leave so that his presence may all the more be felt
by everyone. The physical presence of Jesus is limited only to a certain place
at a certain time. Imagine if Jesus were with us now, his physical presence is
limited by space and time. He can be present only in one place at a time. But
since the Lord has sent the Holy Spirit – his spiritual presence – Jesus is
present every time there is mass all throughout the world. His presence can be
felt by many people all throughout the world at the same time. This is the beauty
of the gift of the Holy Spirit as the spiritual presence of Jesus. What then is
the fruit of the presence of the Holy Spirit?
THE
HOLY SPIRIT WILL GIVE US THE PEACE OF JESUS. The peace of Jesus
does not mean that we will have a comfortable and easy life. When confronted
with difficulties, fear sometimes paralyze us. But if we have the Holy Spirit,
if we have the spiritual presence of Jesus, we will have peace. The peace of
Jesus will help us overcome our fears and move on. Isn’t this the experience of
the disciples of Jesus? After Jesus ascended into heaven, they faced even greater
persecution and trials. But they were not defeated because of the presence of
the Holy Spirit in their hearts. They were not paralyzed by their fear because
they held on to Jesus who gave them peace. In the first reading the conflict of
the first Christian community was resolved through the guidance of the Holy
Spirit. Peace was restored because of the presence of the Holy Spirit in them.
This tells us that if we want to have peace, we need to hold on to Jesus. Because
the absence of Jesus is the absence of peace.
In this mass let
us pray for the grace that like the disciples, we may hold on to Jesus, long
for His presence, be open to the workings of the Holy Spirit so that the peace
of Christ may reign in our lives. Amen.
