Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter
(Acts 19:1-8; John 16:19-23)
In today’s passage from the Gospel of John Jesus tells his
disciples that they will leave him for their own homes. In fact, the gospel reports this
happening. After Jesus’ resurrection
appearances in the locked room, the disciples are next seen back in Galilee. Jesus will appear to them again standing on
the seashore. He will urge them to
preach the gospel when he tells them to cast their nets. He will also commission Peter to support and
guide those who believe in the disciples’ preaching.
During today’s discourse Jesus indicates the reason for
their eventual leaving Jerusalem. They will
have no peace there. They will fear the Jews
who will not want them around to preach in Jesus’ name. Depressed that Jesus’ mission is apparently lost,
they will not bother to pursue it further. Jesus here gives advanced warning so that fear
and depression do not overwhelm them. He
reassures them of his presence by stating that the Father is with him. Earlier in the discourse (14:20), he told
them that as the Father is in him, he is in his disciples.
Fear and depression keep some of us from living our faith in
Christ. In parts of the world Christians
are being harassed and persecuted. In
western societies we shun the loneliness and frustration of living in accord
with principles of faith. It is critical that we remember Jesus’ promise to be
with us. We can turn to other members of
his Body as validating what he said. He is
turning our desolation to fulfillment and our sadness to joy.
