Remain close to God | Catholics on Call

by Shannon Ambroise | April 28, 2016

sixTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (MAy 1, 2016)

Scripture readings:

ACTS 15:1-2, 22-29

PS 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

REV 21:10-14, 22-23

JN 14:23-29

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Whoever loves me will keep my word,

and my Father will love him,

and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.

Whoever does not love me does not keep my words;

yet the word you hear is not mine

but that of the Father who sent me.

“I have told you this while I am with you.

The Advocate, the Holy Spirit,

whom the Father will send in my name,

will teach you everything

and remind you of all that I told you.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.

Not as the world gives do I give it to you.

Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

You heard me tell you,

‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’

If you loved me,

you would rejoice that I am going to the Father;

for the Father is greater than I.

And now I have told you this before it happens,

so that when it happens you may believe.” (JN 14:23-29)

Life can be tough at times. Sometimes you may feel as though your tough times will never end. When you turn on the news there’s always a devastating story. Heck, when you’re driving down the expressway listening to the radio, there’s always a sad song. I cannot recall the number of times that I have heard the statement “In life, you just can’t seem to win”. I don’t know if you have noticed but this statement can bring about a sense of comfort for others who feel as though in life you are expected to be defeated and there is just nothing that you can do about it.

Jesus said to his disciples In the Gospel of John 14:23-29, I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

The truth that Jesus relayed to the disciples is the same truth that should provide comfort for me and you. This gospel says to me that we don’t have to go through life in pain, scared, or with the expectation of being defeated. We should instead remain close to God, find peace in knowing that God is always with us, and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us through.

Image: Prayer by Chris Barber Found on Flickr under a Creative Commons License.

Shannon Ambroise

Shannon Ambroise is a 2013 Catholics on Call alumna. She received a B.A. in Psychology from National - Louis University and is currently working on her M.A in Pastoral Studies at CTU.