Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Jn 16: 29-33
May 22, 2023 | Monday
The disciples said to him, “Now you are speaking plainly and not in veiled language! Now we see that you know all things, even before we question you. Because of this we believe that you came from God.”
Jesus answered them, “You say that you believe? The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.
I have told you all this, so that in me you may have peace. You will have trouble
Today’s Reflection:
In today’s Gospel, Jesus continues to prepare the disciples for His departure from them and from this world. The disciples believe that they completely understand what Jesus is talking about. But Jesus asks them, “Do you truly believe? “Jesus then predicts that the time will come when they will be so afraid that they will scatter and desert Him. Despite their protests, Jesus knows that ultimately, He will end up alone. His disciples do not have a clue about what will happen. They truly believe that they will never desert Jesus. Yet, when the time comes and the threat is dire, most of them scatter. Jesus knows His disciples well. He knows and believes that they truly do love Him. Jesus has no doubt about that. However, he also understands that they are humans and when the threat becomes serious and possibly lethal, they will flee. The gift for Jesus is that despite all that will happen, Jesus is at peace. Jesus has the Father and Jesus deeply trusts and knows that His Father will never leave him.
Do we believe that God our Father/Mother will never leave us? Amid the turmoil, do we have some peace and assurance that we will come through this situation, believing that God is with us? If we can trust in God’s presence with us, this belief will strengthen us and thus enable us to know and understand that we are never alone. Jesus wants us to have peace. Peace is a small, six-letter word, but the gift of peace is indescribable and invaluable. If we truly desire peace, Jesus will gift us with this special grace. Will we ask for this gift? /Vulnerasti, 2023
