Sunday 25th May 2025 - The sixth Sunday of Easter

Acts 15:1-2, 22-29/ Ps 67(66)/ Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23/ John 14:23-29

Peace seems to be an elusive thing that occurs from time to time but can dissolve as quickly as it appeared. We see places around the world that are ravaged by war and division with the people who suffer the most often those who have the least control over their circumstances. We have just marked eighty years since the end of the second world war. A war that started barely twenty years after the war that was supposed to end all wars. Since then there have been countless conflicts around the world and today we continue to see wars in progress and the threat of other conflicts breaking out. Humanity does not seem to learn from history and is quick to resort to armed conflict.

In the Gospel passage today Jesus continues to prepare his disciples for his departure from them. He tells them he leaves his peace with them; his peace he gives them. This is not a passing worldly peace but a deep and lasting peace. The peace that Jesus leaves for us will see us through any turmoil we face here on earth. It is the inner peace that allows martyrs to go joyfully to their deaths, a peace that is beyond human understanding but is freely given by God. The peace that Jesus leaves us can give us an inner calmness that can spread out from us into those around us, our families, friends, workplaces. If nurtured carefully this peace can be brought to nations and even the whole world. The problem is that this God given peace is blocked by the self-centred ambitions stemming from fallen human behaviour.

The psalm and the second reading give a glimpse of the coming kingdom of God promising that God’s ways will be known throughout the earth and all nations will learn of the salvation offered by God. Every time we recite the Our Father we pray for God’s kingdom to come. A vision of this kingdom is given in the second reading, a universal and all-encompassing kingdom. It will need no outside energy or light source because all will come from God. This kingdom is already with us, it is supported by the Church Jesus founded and driven by the Holy Spirit who came into the Church at Pentecost and is still poured out through the Church today.

There will always be questions and disagreements among people but these should not lead to conflict and violence but rather understanding and peace. The model for this is established by what could be considered to be the first church council as described in the first reading. A dispute had arisen between two factions of the Church. The details of the dispute are not as important as the way in which the matter was resolved. Having had what sounded like a lively debate locally delegates were sent to Jerusalem to discuss it with the apostles and elders. From the letter that weas subsequently sent back it seems that under the guidance of the Holy Spirit the discussions resulted in a set of instructions that would satisfy both factions giving a clear way forward.

This model for how the Church founded by Jesus should be guided by the Holy Spirit and governed by those appointed to serve it appears very early on in church history and has continued down the centuries to this day. The results of such governance have not always been accepted and the consequence of dissention can result in rifts and the establishment of factions forming their own decision-making processes. The breaking away from the Church established by Jesus will only serve to damage it and the faction leaving its authority. The way to build up God’s kingdom on earth is to seek universality and harmony between the many and varied peoples called to it, trusting in those chosen to govern and the power of the Holy Spirit working through them. Decisions are made in the Spirit and communicated throughout the Church. All the various traditions must hold together in unity and not split away. We must trust in the Holy Spirit and in the authority given through Peter directly by Jesus. Any other way will lead to division and conflict.

The Holy Spirit is with us, the peace given by Jesus, not as the world gives, is with us. Let us seek to resolve our differences in peace, understanding, and harmony in cooperation with the Holy Spirit.

God Bless Brendan