It always seems a bit strange when the appointed Gospel reading begins in the middle of a thought, verse, or biblical unit. It doesn't happen often, but it does happen at times, as it does today. I've never really understood why those who shaped the lectionary would begin a gospel reading with these words, "Jesus answered...". Certainly, Jesus' answer is meaningful, and gives us much to think about. But, why not begin the passage, with the question?! It would make the answer more, poignant, and pointed--to hear the question being asked of Jesus first, and THEN hear his answer. Otherwise, as it is today, it's kind of like playing biblical Jeopardy--where the lectionary gives us the answer, and we have to guess the question. But it's not really all that Jeopardy-esqe, because, we can look up the passage in the Bible, in the Gospel of John, and read the question for ourselves. Which is what I did--and what I'd like to do for you now.

     As you know from the past few week's readings, our gospel lessons for these Sundays of Easter are taken from Jesus' farewell discourses--from Jesus' words with his disciples on Maundy Thursday, the night of his betrayal, the night before His crucifixion and death. They are, in a sense, his parting words--as he prepares himself, and his disciples, for his departure from this world and this life, at least, his departure as a human being, as a flesh and blood man who walked and talked with his disciples, as we walk and talk with one another, on this side of earthly death. Through his words, he sought to prepare his followers for this imminent departure, but he also sought to prepare them for life without him physically, bodily present, as he had been thus far. Having been used to Jesus' earthly presence, now, the disciples--indeed, the Church, would have to become accustomed to a whole new way of relating to Jesus. Because, now, Jesus would continue to be present, but present in another way. Present as the resurrected Lord; present by the power of the Holy Spirit, in the Word, and the Water, and the bread and wine of the Holy Supper. And Jesus wanted to prepare his disciples for this change. So, much of the farewell discourses are about his departing from this worldly existence, and how he would be known to them, post-Easter. That's what we've been hearing about these last few Sundays of Easter--and that's what we hear about today. That's what the disciples were hearing about, that Maundy Thursday, when Jesus sat at table with them, and taught them. Just before our gospel reading, Jesus had said to them, "In a little while, the world will no longer see me, but you will see me..." And then, the other Judas, not Iscariot, baffled by what Jesus was saying, asked, "Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us--and not to the world?" In other words, how is it that we disciples will see you, but no one else in the world will? And truly, that's a valid question. And it's as valid today, as it was when the other Judas first asked it. Maybe more so--as we live some 2000 years after Jesus died, was raised, and ascended to the side of God the Father Almighty! Maybe more so, as we live some 2000 years after, and we have even more reason to wonder if Jesus will ever come again in power and glory, to wonder if Jesus will ever reveal himself to the world as he had revealed himself to us, to wonder if we will have to go on, forever, in this in-between existence; in between Jesus' ascension, and His second coming? We can understand where the other Judas was coming from, how the disciples were feeling, by the feelings Jesus addresses in his answer to Judas. And what we see is that they were feeling abandoned, alone, afraid, troubled and confused. Which is precisely the way we feel, at times in life; abandoned, alone, afraid, troubled and confused. The other Judas and the first disciples were anticipating that without Jesus, their Lord and Master, physically, bodily present as he had been prior to the crucifixion, they would come to feel abandoned, alone, afraid, troubled and confused. We aren't just anticipating that--we have felt that way at times! You may be feeling that way right now! When we lose our job, when a parent dies, when we have lost our way in life, when we are frustrated in our parenting, when we're facing serious illness, when we lose a loved one--when life hits us hard and we feel overwhelmed by the pressures and trials of this life, we do, indeed, wonder whether we have been abandoned by God, left to our own devices, which leaves us afraid and troubled. And it's then that we ask with the other Judas, how it will be that Jesus will come to us--even though he won't be coming again, into the world, as a flesh and blood human being, visible and recognizable to all? And now we come to Jesus' answer--in our gospel reading. Now Jesus answers by saying, "I will come to those who love me and keep my word--and not only will we--my Father and I come to you--we will make our home with you! The Holy Spirit will come to you, and will teach you this, and remind you of this. And our presence with you, will bring you peace. Our presence will ease your troubles and take away your fear. Truly, you will rejoice that I am not, bodily, humanly with you--because, as I have already told you, I am going to prepare a heavenly place for you." Jesus says, "I have told you all this before it occurred, so that when it did occur, you may believe." And now, it has occurred, and hopefully, we believe. Hopefully, we do believe that though Jesus is not present with us, as he was present in the world for some thirty years, as a human being--now, he and the Father are with us; now, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the Father and the Son make their home with us--and their presence gives us peace, and strength, and courage--to continue on, to live on, to rejoice, that Jesus, even now, has a place prepared for us, that when we depart this world, we will be taken to live with the Lord God Almighty, and the Lamb, in the holy city, New Jerusalem, for eternity. Ultimately, God will make us, a home with him, in heaven. For now, however, the Father, the Son and the Spirit, come to us, and make their home with us--making their home, in our hearts, to drive out, fear and loneliness and trouble. Bernard of Clairvaux, monk and mystic of the eleventh and twelfth centuries, said, ""My Father and I will come to him--that is to say, to the holy of heart--says the Son of God, and we will make our home with him. It seems to me that when the psalmist said to God: You make your dwelling in the holy place, O God--he had no other place in mind than the hearts of the saints. The apostle expresses it quite clearly: Christ lives in our hearts through faith... Blessed indeed," writes Bernard, "is the soul to whom the Lord says: I will set up my throne in you--I will make my home with you".

     Blessed, indeed, are we, that the Lord says to us--to you and to me, "I will not be distant or far-off; I will not leave you alone, or orphaned--I will set up my throne in you--I will be Lord of your life, We will make our home with you!" And truly, He has! The Lord has come to dwell with us! The Lord makes His home, in the temple of our flesh and blood! The Word has become flesh, to dwell among us--and in us! As we receive the Word and the Sacrament of the Lord's body and blood, He enters into us, to live with us. As we go to our homes, He goes with us, and lives with us there! And His presence, drives away our fear, His presence calms our troubled hearts; His presence, gives us peace--His peace--real peace; peace, every day of our lives, until that time, when He will take us, to make our home, with Him. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.