The Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 20, 2001

Based on the readings from Acts 16:9-15, Revelation 21:10, 22-27 & John 14:23-29

There is a legend that tells how John the Evangelist and Mary, the mother of Jesus, settled in a place near Ephesus in what is now Turkey, to live out their lives in peace and reflection. In that place, a mountain rises above the ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus. A small hut situated on the top of the mountain is revered as the place where John lived. In its utter simplicity, it is in stark contrast to the once thriving metropolis of Ephesus, a city known for its decadence and wealth. The site is a place of solitude and holiness for Christians on pilgrimage. Visitors at the site can easily imagine how John came to articulate the meaning and message of Jesus of Nazareth in a way that speaks to us of intimate knowledge and understanding – of his vision of Shalom.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives." That vision of shalom, that vision of peace that Jesus spoke about to the disciples, that peace not as the world gives it, but as God sees it, is almost impossible for us to comprehend.

Yet John captures it again and again. In the Book of Revelation, he articulates the perfect society, a society completed by God, one in which our vision and God's vision are one and the same. His vision is of the Holy City. There is no need for a temple in the city, for all places are set aside as God's. All life has become a temple of the presence of God. The glory of God lights the city. Its gates are open. There is no night there, no poverty, no hatred, no injustice, no oppression, no intolerance, and no inequality. It is a kingdom of shalom, of perfect peace, of Heaven on earth.

How do we living in the real world arrive at that inner knowledge of the reality of God, present in the world? How do we achieve that ‘peace which the world cannot give’? For we know the reality; we live in the real world, a world that revolves around power, money and so many other things that cause it misery and suffering. We know that if Jesus had preached war on behalf of the oppressed, he would have been understood. If he had preached the amassing of capital on behalf of the rich, he would have been applauded. If he had revolted against exploitation he would have had people behind him. If he had been on the side of the exploiters, he would have gained support. But to go forward with love as your banner is to leave the world behind and have only the Spirit of God to support you. That is the way to true peace, to Shalom.

Jesus’ words of farewell in the Gospel passage begin by talking about love, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." The way in which we are enabled to follow the commandments of Christ, comes, not by following rules, but from an inner conviction. It may begin with imitation, by imitating Jesus – his way of living and his behaviour, but we need to go beyond seeing Jesus as an historical person, and begin to know him as a power that floods us with love and strength.

John gives that power a name. "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you." The Holy Spirit is the "in-between" God, the force and energy that should bind us together to bring about the kingdom of shalom. Our Spiritual journey is not simply about learning facts, but about experiencing God’s presence with us. The Spirit is with us everywhere. It is not just while we are in church or doing religious things that the Spirit is working in us.

But how do we know that? It is an awareness that comes most often, I suspect, at times of difficulty and need. One of the great things during difficult circumstances is to have someone beside us. We know that person cannot suffer in our place. Still, just to have someone there, someone who understands what we are going through, and who cares about us, is a source of immense comfort and strength. It breathes new life into us like the wind breathes life into a dying fire. Yet it seems to me that often when we are in a difficult place we fail to remember that the Spirit of God is there with us. When we pray for a friend, we are thinking in terms of a human friend. How wonderful it is when we do learn to rely on God’s promises, and feel the presence of God’s Spirit in our lives! What great possibilities open up for us!

The account of the journey of Paul to Macedonia is such a story. During the night, Paul has a vision from a Macedonian pleading for him to cross the Aegean Sea to preach the gospel. His vision follows a series of frustrating false starts. Yet this visit is often referred to as "The Great Missionary Journey". It begins with a small band of zealous missionaries crossing Asia Minor without enough success to warrant a single line in a newspaper. Paul willingly follows the lead of the Spirit beyond its initial failures. In fact, the failures are what bring him to the geographical edge of what he had intended. Exactly the place where God wanted him, we might suspect! Suddenly everything begins to fall into place. Following a near perfect boat trip to Greece and then on to Philippi, we hear of the conversion of Lydia. This wealthy, gentile woman heard, believed, was baptized, and invited them to stay with her. Isn’t that an illustration of how the Spirit of God works? It never seems to happen in the way we expect it. God’s way seems to open up even what we view as failures in our lives.

When were you guided by an influence greater than yourself? On what occasion have you come to realize that your talents came from beyond yourself? When have you known that you could never have accomplished what you did on your own? Those were times when you experienced the power of God’s Spirit working within you. Those are times that you experienced Shalom. Where do you need peace right now? What decisions do you need to make that require God’s wisdom and guidance? Those are opportunities to experience the power of God working in you. Those are opportunities to experience shalom. For God promises to send the Spirit to stand at our side and teach us all things. And God's promises are true.