Reflection for the Sixth Sunday of Easter

by Mary Toline, Notre Dame Associate

In the Gospel of John 14:23-29 Jesus said to his disciples: “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. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words, yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me.”

“I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you. 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. You heard me tell you. “I am going away and I will come back to you.” If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe.”

When you hear the words of this Gospel, one must read it several times to maybe understand. I can’t imagine how the Apostles and disciples must have felt, trying to understand these words. One must have blind faith and just accept what Jesus was telling them without question.,

There are times when I don’t think that I understand what is happening within our Church and the world such as the scandal with some of the priests, all the murderers that happen even just in Omaha, the crime is so high and people just being mean to other people. What has happened to people? We need to reflect back what Jesus has taught us and that “Peace I leave with you, and my peace I give to you.” If we just think more about what Jesus went thru with his Crucifixion and that He is coming back to be with us like with Ascension next week and at the end of our lives, we just need to believe and trust in Jesus.