JESUS’ FAREWELL GIFT (Jn 14:27-31)
Prayer:
O Jesus, fill me with your total peace.
Imagination:
Picture Jesus teaching his disciples at the Last Supper.
Context:
This gospel concludes Jesus’ teaching at the Last Supper. He tries to prepare the apostles in two ways. First, he promises to place a lasting peace in their hearts. Second, he explains that his death results from his battle with Satan, the prince of this world. Jesus suffers because he is obedient to the Father.
Gospel Text: (Read slowly, possibly aloud.)
Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give. Let not your heart be troubled or be afraid. You have heard me say to you, I go away and I come back to you. If you loved me you indeed would be glad, because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
I have told you this before it happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe. I will not go on saying many things. For the prince of this world comes and he has no hold on me. However, the world must know that I love the Father and I do as the Father commanded.
Thoughts: (Read all. Ponder those that attract you.)
- The heart of Jesus is broken. Obeying the Father entails leaving the apostles in great distress.
- He tries to soften this hardship by filling their hearts with peace.
- His “going away” is just for “a little while”, the three days in the tomb.
- He will come back. Only Jesus could do that.
- They must try to enter into Jesus’ joy. He will be returning to the Father.
- He prophesies all these events, so that they believe.
- He must stop speaking. The battle is at hand, the eternal combat between Jesus and Satan.
- His death on the cross will prove to the whole world that he loves the Father.
Affections: (When one touches your heart, use your own words.)
- O Jesus, your heart is always broken for me in all my trials.
- Fill me with your peace.
- O Jesus, for a little while you have “gone away”.
- Come back, Jesus. Return soon.
- By your words, I know you live within me.
- O Jesus, all your words have proven true. I believe.
- I see your arms, extended on the cross, in obedience to your Father.
- You have destroyed my adversary, Satan. You have won the victory for me.
Resolutions: (Possibly you might want to make your own.)
+ I will try to understand Jesus’ infinite love for me.
+ I will seek his peace so I can serve him.
Thought for the Day: (To recall your meditation.)
The Prince of this world has no control over me.