God's Promise and Gifts for All – Shalom!

          A new survey published on March 26th by the American Bible Society – as reported in the Jesuit magazine America - finds that Americans overwhelmingly believe morals and values are declining in the United States.

What was the most often cited cause for this decline?

           The main reason given was the lack of reading and putting into practice the lessons and teachings found in the Bible.

 ·        66 percent of those surveyed agreed that the Bible contains everything a person needs to know to live a meaningful life,

But. . .  

·        58 percent say they do not personally want wisdom and advice from the Bible,

·        57 percent say they read the Bible fewer than five times per year.

 

          The Bible, even though it is often referred to as the “ultimate instruction guide on how to live a moral life;” unfortunately, it seems, that more than half of Americans rarely, if ever, read it!

 

If we had a cure for cancer,

wouldn’t everyone with cancer take it?

          Americans are telling us that the cure for declining morality is sitting right on our bookshelves, but many are simply letting the cure gather dust.

          Fortunately for Catholics, the Church directs that in a continuing and repeating 3 year cycle, all the bible scripture writings are to be read and proclaimed at daily and weekend Masses. This directive of the church insures that we will have an opportunity to hear and learn God’s Word as it is in the Scriptures.

Jesus assures and promises

          In this Sunday’s Gospel,(JN 14:23-29; May 5, 2012) which is part of Jesus’ farewell discourse, Jesus assures and promises to his disciples – and you and me too – that he will not leave us as orphans. His impending departure will not leave the disciples or us lacking or deprived, in any way, of his love.

           Today these Assurances and Promises are presented to us in their fullness in Jesus Christ.

The Message

          There are 4 distinct messages for us in today’s Gospel of John

First:

THE “PROMISE”:

 “Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love them,

What is this “word” that Jesus refers to? 

When Jesus was asked “What is the greatest Commandment?” – Jesus’ reply was: “. . . to love one other as I have loved you. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples.” (John 13:34-35)

. . . and we will come to them

 and make our dwelling with them.”

 

 

 St. Teresa of Avila reminds us that, “If Christ Jesus dwells in you as your friend and noble leader, then you can endure all things, for Christ helps and strengthens us and never abandons us.”

 Secondly: 

 THE SUPPORT:

 "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."

 The Holy Spirit – the Advocate – brings seven gifts to each of us helping us to lead a Christian Life. These Gifts are:

WISDOM: Through wisdom, we come to value properly those things which we believe through faith. That the truth of Christian belief is more important than the things of this world

 

UNDERSTANDING: Allows us grasp, at least in a limited way, the very essence of the truths of the Catholic Faith. Through understanding, we gain a conviction about our beliefs that moves beyond faith.

 

COUNSEL/GUIDANCE: Through this gift of the Holy Spirit, we are able to judge how best to act almost by intuition. Because of the gift of counsel, we need not fear to stand up for the truths of the Faith, because the Holy Spirit will guide us in defending those truths.

 

FORTITUDE/COURAGE: Gives us the strength to act and follow through on our Christian faith. Fortitude is the virtue of the martyrs that allows them to suffer any outcome rather than to renounce their Christian Faith.

 

KNOWLEDGE: Allows us to see our life the way that God sees us.

 

PIETY/FAITHFULNESS: The willingness to worship and to serve God; a willingness that goes beyond a sense of duty, so that we desire to worship God and to serve Him out of love.

 

FEAR OF GOD: This gift of the Holy Spirit gives us the desire not to offend God, as well as the certainty that God will supply us the grace that we need in order to keep from offending Him.

 

Thirdly:

 THE PROMISE OF PEACE:

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give it to you."

To wish another “peace” is to wish for their fulfillment, for an abundance of all they need, for prosperity. Peace is not merely the end of wars, or the end of violence; rather, “ true peace” is the very presence of God entering in to the human heart.

And finally:

THE PROMISE OF HOPE:

 "Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
I am going away and I will come back to you."

 

We are instructed to live a life of “hope,” a hope that transcends and over comes the many times we fall victim to the feelings of fear, doubt, and anger and the life experiences of loss and pain.  Peter who was a witness of Jesus’ life and teachings writes:

 

Blessed be the God and Father

of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who in his great mercy gave us a new birth

to a living hope

to an inheritance that is

imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,

and kept in heaven for you,

 In this you rejoice,  

 

 1Peter 1:4-9

 

 

Let us Pray: 

We give thanks to you, our God, because of your constant love for us; you have given us the promise of everlasting life with you.

Holy Spirit, give us the courage and wisdom to be Jesus’ follower, even when it isn’t easy.  Fill us with the joy and peace that comes from doing your will.   Amen.