The Vision of Jesus: For his Disciples and Beyond
Peace, I leave you; my peace I give to you…. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. (John 14:27)
As John in his Gospel, tells the story of Jesus and his disciples we discover the significance of relationships for the disciples of Jesus. Before his death and resurrection, Jesus reflects on his departure from them (John 14:23-29). As he does so, Jesus reassures them in two ways. First, his vision is that they not be troubled or fearful. He wants his disciples to be at peace, in their own hearts and with one another.
The second reassurance is his promise that the Father will not leave them alone or abandoned. God will gift them with “the Advocate”, the Holy Spirit of God will be with them always. With this Spirit, Jesus will continue to be among them, guiding and supporting them as they carry on his message and mission.
Monday, May 19 was the day following the inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV. It is significant that in a special audience, Pope Leo met with a host of religious leaders both Christian and non-Christian. In his address at the audience, Pope Leo noted that he was following in the footsteps of both Pope John XXIII and Pope Francis. Directly referring to Pope Francis’s encyclical, Fratelli tutti, Pope Leo noted that his predecessor expressed openness to all religious traditions: above all by cultivating interpersonal relations, in such a way that, without taking anything away from ecclesial ties, the human trait of encounter was always valued. May God help us to treasure his witness.
This sense of openness to all peoples, communities and beliefs is significant for our community of faith. It creates the readiness to reach out in respect and care for others, including those who are not part of our community or who hold different views from us. Both Pope Francis and now Pope Leo share this open and inclusive view. It leads to a compassion and care that reaches beyond borders and barriers. In such a community, mercy is without limits.
The image that Francis applied to our church is the image of a “field hospital”. That is, our faith community is to be out among the struggles and challenges, physical, social, economic and moral of all humanity. It is to reach out, in particular to the lost and the excluded, the outcasts, the suffering, the wounded and the hurting.
John’s Gospel describes the challenge faced by the disciples as they faced the reality that Jesus is soon to leave them. He encourages them with the promise of the “Advocate”, the Holy Spirit and then declares to them: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
Pope Francis directed our attention to mercy as a central piece of our faith life. We are challenged to discover the peace of heart and peace with others that is Jesus’ vision for his disciples and our world. At the same time, we are to acknowledge or own weakness and wounds. As Church, we are not perfect. Nor do we have all the answers. Together with all of humanity, we are a community on a life pilgrimage. This a trek of searching and seeking for peace and a sense of what is good for all. The road is not always clear and so we search together, seeking to do the best for all humanity and creation at large.
Perhaps the closing words of prayer in Francis’s Fratelli tutti is appropriate as we move to a new papacy with Pope Leo XIV:
May our hearts be open
to all the peoples and nations of the earth.
May we recognize the goodness and beauty
that you have sown in each of us,
and thus, forge bonds of unity, common projects,
and shared dreams. Amen
John Jennings
6th Sunday of Easter