Jesus will come back to us May 16

Prayer

Come back to me, Jesus. Though I am pulled to turn away from you, I know that you await my return as I await yours. Through the intercession of St. Brendan the Navigator, show us the way back to you. In a spirit of hospitality, as you prepare a place for me to dwell in your Father’s house, let me prepare a place for you to dwell in my house and in my heart.

Holy Spirit, now that Jesus has ascended to the Father’s house, speak to us for Him. Guide us in the way of the Father so we can avoid the temptations of your Adversary in this world.Despite the simplicity of your message, we have such a hard time following it because you challenge us to turn our backs on all that tempts us.

Help us, like Paul and Barnabas, open the door of faith to others by loving you and doing as you commanded. Give us the strength that you and the Desert Fathers found to in the desert journey. Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil. Amen.

Study
http://www.usccb.org/nab/051606.shtml

'I am going away and I will come back to you.' John 14:28

John's Gospel and the entire Good News all comes back to two words. “Love.” “Do.” First, in the context of today’s readings and the rest of chapter 14, Jesus will come back to us and dwell within us if we love Him and fulfill His commandments. The statement also might be interpreted as promising the return of Jesus in the Second Coming. Jesus explains that He will no longer speak to us in a human, face-to-face sense. However, through the Father and the Holy Spirit, He will still seek us out in a close encounter, close moment.

If we just Love and Do, Jesus offers us a lasting peace that will calm our fears and not let our hearts be troubled.

We also see today’s Gospel numerous references that Jesus is in opposition to “this world.”

“Shalom.” The typical meaning of this is “peace.” However, Jesus presents a messianic blessing that promises more. He promises salvation.

“Not as this world gives do I give.” This world gives to us in a “quid pro quo” left hand washes the right hand kind of way. Jesus gives in a “pro bono” manner not seeking payment for his gifts to us except throughout our obedience in faith and carrying out of His commandments to love our enemies.

Jesus warns us that “the ruler of the world is coming,” referring to His adversary. Although this adversary has no power over Jesus, he can and does try to tempt us with the trappings of that world…trappings which are opposed to the trappings of eternal life that Jesus promises.

It all comes back to two words. “Love.” “Do.” Love only God. Do only as God commands. Love not the temporal things of this world. Do not do as the Adversary tempts you but as the Advocate, the Holy Spirit inspires you.

Action

What has God done with you lately? What have you done with God? How can you cultivate the shalom of Jesus in today's world?

Jesus tells us that “the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me.” The world must know that George and Greg and Joe and Rich, Mary and Mimi and Kat and Carol and Rae and Kathy and all of us love the Father and that we do as the Father commanded us.

Let us cultivate the shalom of Jesus’ promise in today’s reading. When we sow that shalom in our hearts, it will grow and yield much more peace, peace that will feed and satisfy the world.

(If the e-mail doesn't come through every day, reflections are posted at www.yourdailytripod.blogspot.com.)