May 12, Sixth Sunday of Easter, Jn 14/15-21

BACKGROUND

In these May Gospels Jesus is portrayed as being deeply reluctant to leave his followers behind. He loves them. He will miss them. He will always be with them, but not in the same way he has been. He will take care of them as best he can. He wants to reassure them, yet he cannot deny the pain of separation from which they will suffer - and by implication from which he too will suffer. He promises them that they will not be alone, he will send another to be their inspiration and guide, the advocate, the guardian, the spirit of truth. Reading the later doctrine of the Trinity back into this passage we recognize the promise that God's Holy Spirit will always be with the followers of Jesus. The Spirit's invisible but powerful presence will be with them until finally Jesus is reunited with them. This message was intended primarily for the early Christians who believed in Jesus but who lamented for his absence. But it is also intended for us. We are not alone. No matter how bad things might seem, Jesus is still with us.

STORY

Once upon a time a woman had to travel to a city across the country on business and remain there for a week. It was only a short period of time, she told her husband and children. The week would pass by before they knew it. Sometimes, she said, a whole week would pass by at home and most of the members of the family would hardly say a word to her. What was the big deal about her not being in the house for a few days? Well, they agreed that she had to go away but said they didn't have to like it. She phoned them every evening while she was out of town but warned them that there was one evening that she wouldn't be able to do so because she was stuck with a late dinner. She got back to her hotel at 11:30. It was 10:30 in her home town. Too late to call. Besides she had told them that she wouldn't call. They'd probably all gone to bed. Maybe they were used now to her being a way. She turned on the TV and saw that crazy add where the man is talking to his wife in the hotel room, even though she's back home. Then he grabs for the phone. Tears pouring down her cheeks, the woman picked up the phone. Guess what? Were they all in bed? Of course not. They were waiting at the phone for her to call. Everyone had a good cry, even her unemotional teenage son. That's how Jesus feels about us. When we feel that way about those we love, we bring Jesus's love to them. The mother in a distant city represented her own love and the love of Jesus.