What words of assurance are we receiving today from God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit? What message might God and the Holy Spirit want us to hear today and to ponder. You can expect challenges, you can expect hardships as my followers, and some may find the challenges and hardships too much to bear but if you remain in me, I will remain with you.
Saint Paul said today that while preaching the message of Jesus many refused to believe but to those who did, a peace came over them. Jesus himself spoke of our receiving the gift of peace if we receive him. Then he went on to say that this peace would not be like the peace that the world gives.
We can find worldly peace if we search for it and work for it, but the peace Jesus speaks of our finding is his person. The Son of God is prepared to make his dwelling with us. The Son of God is prepared to share his very self with us. The peace that Jesus offers is to be found in the new commandment that he gave us, love as he loved, to become holy as he is holy. This is the Peace that he is prepared to give us and is available to us.
Saint Paul today spoke of how God opened the doors of people’s hearts and people became receptive to the message that Paul was bringing them about love of God and neighbor. Many of us are familiar with that scene where God is at the door, knocking but the handle is on our side. He knocks on our door and asks to come in. We heard him say that he had to return to the Father and he did but that he would also come back to be among us, and he has.
Yes, the Spirit is among us but look around and see Christ in one another for many have opened the door in response to his invitation and we are enjoying his peace, his person among us here and now.
