May 22- 6th Sunday of Easter
(Acts 15:1-2, 22-29; Rev 21:10-14, 22-23; Jn 14:23-29)
In today's second reading from Revelation the Evangelist describes a vision of the heavenly Jerusalem. This glorious vision contrasts starkly with the current state of the Earthly Jerusalem at that time. After a four-year campaign against a Jerusalem insurgency, the Romans destroyed much of the city, including the temple. Jerusalem lay in shambles. About twenty years later, with the sad memory of Jerusalem still fairly fresh, John writes the Book of Revelation. The vision of the heavenly Jerusalem must have seemed especially welcome to any Jew who lived through the fall of their beloved city. The message of this vision might be that regardless of how bad things are in this life, a heavenly reward will make things right. This is one kind of consolation, but the Gospel delivers another kind.
In today's Gospel, we read a series of promises of Jesus to his disciples who are faithful. But instead of focusing on rewards in the afterlife, these promises are more immediate. Jesus 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.” And again, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” Jesus promises to come to us and give us peace of mind, right here, right now, while we still live. Let us then implore Jesus in prayer to grant us the presence and love of the Father, the peace of Christ, and the consolation of the Holy Spirit right here and now. Jesus says God longs to grant these things to us right now if we will only love God and keep His word. God wants to do it. We have only to ask.