Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter

John 14:27-31a

Jesus said to his disciples: “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. I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me, but the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, little by little I contemplate the vast tapestry of your Last Supper discourse. There is enough love there to feed me for a lifetime! As St. John reclined on your breast during that solemn night, so grant me to rest my heart mystically on your heart, fount of love and graces.

Encountering Christ:

1. Do Not Be Afraid: “Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” Two things about this statement surprise us. The first is that Christ commands us. The second stems from the first: If Jesus commands us not to be afraid (and not to be troubled), it’s because we have a choice about whether to allow ourselves to fear (and be troubled) or not. Jesus is right to command our peace of heart because giving into fear and interior disturbance does not sanctify us, except in that God pities our weakness and showers his mercy on us in order to dispel our fears. He knows we will fear, but he wants us to be at peace. Jesus can command peace because his word causes what it expresses (see yesterday’s meditation). It’s true that sometimes Jesus is “away,” and our soul flounders in insecurities, but he also promises, “I will come back to you,” and peace returns.

    

2. So Much to Say!: Jesus’ Last Supper discourse is packed with meaning. In today’s excerpt alone, we have the assurance of peace, the promise of Jesus’ Ascension and subsequent return, the greatness of the Father, the purpose of Jesus’ warnings, the coming of the evil one, and the Son’s total devotion to the Father. This flood of ideas and feelings comes from Jesus’ wanting to say so much, and all at once! We have the advantage of having it all written down, so that we can sift through it at a contemplative pace. And yet, the only way to understand Jesus’ words is to observe his actions, to search out his motives, to note his gestures and expressions—in short, to live with him. We must spend time with Jesus (especially in the Eucharist) if we want to understand and be transformed into him.

    

3. That Eucharistic Night: All of Jesus’ words in John 13-17 are in the context of the Eucharist. The reverse is also true: When we go to Mass and the Eucharist is consecrated following Jesus’ command, “Do this in memory of me,” we are also in the context of everything Jesus said that night. When we sit in the pew on Sundays, we are reminded of the gift of his Body and Blood, the institution of the priesthood, the law of charity, the washing of the feet—all the love, all the passion, his desire to save his friends, his human reluctance to die and yet complete adherence to his Father, and the mission of redemption. Just as Easter Sunday is our glory and Good Friday our strength, so should that night of love on Holy Thursday remain ever in our hearts, memories, and affections.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, if you command it, I will not let my heart be troubled or afraid. Give me the peace that comes from ardent love for you—not the worldly peace that comes from indifference. Speak to my heart as you spoke that night to your intimate friends.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will read Psalm 27 with reverence. “The Lord is my light and my salvation; of whom should I be afraid?”

For Further Reflection: Jacques Philippe’s little book Searching for and Maintaining Peace. It is a marvelous aid in heeding Jesus’ command to rest in his peace.

Fr Erik Burckel, LC was ordained to the priesthood in 2022. He writes articles and short stories for diverse purposes and publications, and can be reached at eburckel@legionaries.org.

Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter

John 14:21-26

Jesus said to his disciples: “Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.” Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him, “Master, then what happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him, “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—he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.”

Opening Prayer: God my Father, I know that you love me. I love that you love me, and wish to love you more in return. Teach me to keep your word, remind me of all you have told me, and make your dwelling in me so that I cannot possibly not love you!

Encountering Christ:

1. Words and Commands: First Jesus said, “Whoever observes my commandments is the one who loves me.” Then he said, “Whoever loves me will keep my word.” Are words and commands the same? For God they are. His words have the efficacy of divine commands: What he says comes to pass. “God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” Christ also “pre-spoke” his own Resurrection; he predicted it. Sure enough, he rose again, thus confirming everything he had taught and preached. But there is one thing that God’s word cannot command: our free love.

    

2. Overwhelming Love: There is no defect in divine power, but the nature of freedom is such that free love cannot be forced. Therefore, Jesus, loving us as he does, is “forced” to woo us. He asks, begs, pleads; he works, sacrifices, demonstrates his love by countless acts of devotion. His speech at the Last Supper is a torrent of lovesickness, promising wonders if only we return his love. “I will love him,” he says. “I will reveal myself to him.” “My Father will love him.” “We will come to him.” “We will make our dwelling with him.” Such beautiful promises, but what if I allow his love in? I pray, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”

    

3. Forever and Always and for Everyone?: Judas, struck by divine love, wanted the whole world to have Jesus, too. “Master, then what happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” He seems to ask, “Is this only here and now, for us few disciples hidden in this room? Can we not universalize this marvelous love?” Jesus replied, “Yes,” after his manner. “The world has my word, the world has my commandments. The world also has you, Judas, and the other Apostles. And if they listen and heed my voice through you, my Father and I will dwell in them.” This love is for the whole world. With the aid of the Holy Spirit, hearts will requite the love of Jesus, the Father’s divine word.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I love you. I love your words and commands. I love the Father who sent you. I love the Spirit of holiness who dwells in me. I love your Church and your Apostles. I love your love, and everything about you.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will journal for a few moments, writing down the ways in which God loves me and I love God.

Fr Erik Burckel, LC was ordained to the priesthood in 2022. He writes articles and short stories for diverse purposes and publications, and can be reached at eburckel@legionaries.org.

Fifth Sunday of Easter

John 14:1-12

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way.” Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.”

Opening Prayer: Lord, fill me with your Spirit. Fill the Church with the Spirit of truth. Guide us with your wisdom and lead us with your word.

Encountering Christ:

1. Filled With the Spirit and Wisdom: The men that the Apostles wanted to appoint as deacons had to be filled with the Spirit and with wisdom. This implies detachment of one’s own will and attentiveness to what the Spirit wants. Our deacons today are also called to serve in God’s name and seek to do his will rather than their own. Wisdom is a virtue that begins with fear of the Lord. We’re not called to be afraid of him, but to be in awe of him, aware of his power and might. Wisdom is defined as “the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment.” These virtues are not exclusive to deacons. We can all pray for them so that we can be better witnesses and contribute to the evangelizing mission of Christ and the Church.

    

2. Devotion to Prayer and Ministry of the Word: The Apostles considered their primary task to be that of prayer and ministry of the word. They knew that any action, however well-intended, is less effective when not flowing from prayer as its source than when it comes from the very source of life and truth. The Apostles could not leave aside the essential element of prayer, no matter how many other seemingly good and important things arose. Rather than allow the demands of the apostolate to infringe upon their wellspring of apostolic action, the Apostles wisely trusted others to collaborate in the mission. How is their example applicable in our lives?

    

3. The Word of God Continued to Spread: The Apostles were faithful to God’s invitation to do what was required of them—prayer and ministry of the word—and the number of followers increased. God blessed their efforts, and they rejoiced over the fruits of their labor. God is eager to act through us when we can remain docile and in tune with his will. When we become aware that our efforts, in conjunction with God’s grace, have extended the Kingdom here in our midst, our hearts can also rejoice.

Conversing with Christ: Lord, you are the source of all grace. When I feel overwhelmed and not sure how to balance everything, show me the way in prayer to resolve things according to the Spirit. 

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will take a quiet moment of prayer to ask you what essential thing you want me to dedicate myself to and what steps I must take to achieve that.

Renee Pomarico, CRC, is Communications Director for the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi. She is from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been consecrated to God since 2000, and is currently stationed in Rome.