SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER A
Today’s gospel reading is bittersweet. It takes place at the Last Supper and Jesus is preparing his disciples for his death, resurrection, and ascension.
There’s a lot of separation anxiety going on with the disciples. The man they gave up everything to follow is about to leave them. And, they don’t really understand what Jesus is talking about – especially the resurrection part. They don’t know what’s going to happen to them. They don’t know where they’re going to go. They had already left their homes and families and livelihoods.
When we lose something that we value or when we have to move on from a familiar place or we lose someone close to us, we, like the disciples, experience “separation anxiety.” We too may feel sad, perhaps depressed, maybe even disagreeable. It’s only human!
The disciples felt these things. Some buried those feelings and kept them to themselves. A couple, like Thomas and Philip had questions. Peter most likely argued. All of them were sad and worried.
But Jesus left his disciples a promise. God would send them an advocate, a helper, a comforter - the Holy Spirit. So the disciples and people for the last 2000 years – including us – are not left alone. The Holy Spirit is still and forever with us.
The Holy Spirit is that quiet, small voice that comes into our hearts when we are overwhelmed or confused and can find no answers.
It’s the Holy Spirit that fills our hearts with love and encouragement when our hearts are broken and we don’t think we can go on. It’s the Holy Spirit that helps us find the right words of comfort to say when we see someone hurting.
When you look into the faces of your grandchildren, when we are overcome with the beauty of springtime or the twinkling of a starry sky or the touch of a loved one’s hand – that is the Holy Spirit reassuring us lo, I am with you always, even to the ends of the earth.
Jesus will not leave us orphans. No matter how alone we feel we are not alone. We are members of a family; the family of God; the body of Christ. Jesus promises us that we will not be mere onlookers to a love we can never possess. Instead, he says; come on in, come join us. My family is gathered and you have a place!
And just as Jesus offers us a place in his family, so too, we must not leave others orphaned; we must not leave anyone on the outside looking in. Whatever you did to the least among you, you did for me.
No matter what happens, what goes wrong, how remote God may seem from us right now; Jesus assures us that we have an advocate and helper – the Holy Spirit, who will always be with us. We will always be a part of God’s family. We will never be alone!