“And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me, but the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me.”
Jesus shows the depth of his love for the disciples by taking great care in affirming their faith in what they are about to witness and in modeling for them obedience to the Father. There is also in this Gospel passage Jesus’ reassurance “I am going away and I will come back to you”—words that not only console but are true. Jesus not only speaks of peace; he is living peace.
God, thank you for this beautiful Easter season, when the resurrection of your Son and the words he spoke before his Passion glorify you and draw us to you! It is not enough, Lord, to understand how the disciples received Jesus’ words and followed the life he modeled; it is for me to grasp that he says to me, “I am going away and I will come back,” and it is I who must know that Jesus loves the Father and does as he commanded him.
So often I know that I can rest in God’s presence throughout the day, that God takes delight in me, as a good father does his child. Yet, I find it hard to let go of the drive toward efficiency and accomplishing as much as possible with the time given. Can I make the effort today to break away from that a couple of times and quiet down to reconnect with God? “I am going away and I will come back to you.”
This day will bring its moments when I am troubled or afraid or anxious. Let me remember to ask Jesus to accompany me today not as a sign or symbol of peace but through him, with him, and in him, the peace of the risen Christ in his love for the Father.