Easter VI, Cycle C

"The Peace of His Presence"

May 9, 2010

The Rev. Dr. David M. Wendel

Saint Luke's Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs

Lessons: Acts 16:9-15; Revelation 21:10, 22—22:5; St. John 14:23-29

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The beauty of the incarnation—of God becoming a flesh and blood human being in Jesus, is that He knows us—He knows our lives, our trials, the nature of our day-to-day existence. And yet, this promise that God will come to be with us, to live with us, forever, does have an effect on us and our lives—it does impact us.

For example, in light of this being Mother's Day, think about our gospel lesson, and what Jesus says. Here, Jesus is speaking about his departure from this world in His farewell discourses on Maundy Thursday, the night of the Last Supper. And Jesus is clearly speaking to his followers about how to continue on after Jesus is crucified, risen and ascended. He is speaking about continuing in His Word, by the power of the Holy Spirit who would be given to them. But think about this text from a mother's point of view. Jesus says, "those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them."

Now again, this being Mother's Day, consider how mothers might respond to such a suggestion? "Oh, great—Jesus and His Father are coming to us, and are going to live with us! Two more mouths to feed—two more house guests coming to stay for an undetermined time!" Sure, there are some moms who could take that in stride, whip up some more food, make up the guest room, make it all seem like a quaint little Bed and Breakfast cottage for God the Father and God the Son. But—my guess is most moms would feel burdened, and troubled—the house isn't clean, the beds aren't made, haven't been to the grocery store for two weeks—and now, Jesus says He and the Father are going to come to us, and make their home with us? They would probably be more cordial than many house guests, but think of the pressure! Entertaining the Holy Trinity, as house guests—who will be living with us from now on—seeing everything, hearing everything, being a part of every family conversation, activity, and conflict? That's not a dream-come-true for many busy, tired, overworked and overscheduled moms. In fact, for some of us, it would be a nightmare!

And while I'm being a bit facetious, and tongue in cheek, the truth is being a mom, or a dad, is overwhelming at times, and thinking about Jesus and His Father actually coming to live with us—to be a member of our household, always, might not be taken in the way that Jesus intends. And why? On the one hand, because homes with kids are often not the ideal place for live-in visitors. Toys are all around, meal-time can be crazy, it's hard to get the kids in bed at a regular time when there are strangers in the house, and all the way around, life can be nuts for families. On the other hand, how families act when no one else is around, how the discussion goes, how disagreements are handled, how we act when no outsiders are watching—this can be embarrassing at best.

And yet, being with us always, being a part of our world, our church and our lives, knowing the lives, not just of moms and families, but knowing what human life is really like for all of God's children, knowing how difficult home-life can be, knowing how our world, and our homes can be full of discord and difficulty, Jesus goes on to say, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid."

Yes, here Jesus is speaking to the twelve disciples, in particular, at the Last Supper, preparing them for his death and departure, realizing that they would be feeling lost, forsaken and confused by the events of the next few days and weeks. But without a doubt, Jesus is also speaking to you, and to me, knowing that we, too, would face difficult times in life, times when we are feeling alone, lonely and forsaken by God. Having lived as a man, having shared our lives, Jesus was fully aware of what human life is like—and what humans are like, experiencing for Himself, fear and anxiety, trial and tribulation. So Jesus speaks to us all, when He says, "peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you, not peace as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not let them be afraid."

And don't our hearts yearn for such peace? Don't we wish, deeply, for a peace that passes all human understanding? Don't we dream of peaceful lives, where we are not troubled and fearful? Moms and dads, don't you lie down at night, and wish you could lay aside the troubles of the day, your fear for your children and their future, so that you could truly, be at peace? In our human lives, we are anxious about many things—from cancer and disease, to the threat of terrorism, to loved ones being deployed, to worry about job security, to loss and grief, to the strains of raising children and teens. We have many reasons for being afraid and troubled. And though we hear Jesus bidding us peace, though Jesus says He will give us His peace; still, we wonder, where is this peace to be found? How does this peace come to us?

St. Augustine writes of this peace, saying, "It is in Jesus, and from Jesus that we have peace, whether it is the peace that he leaves with us when going to the Father, or that peace which He will give us when we ourselves are brought by Him, to the Father. For what is it he leaves with us, when ascending from us, other than His own presence, which He never withdraws? For He himself is our peace.It is he who becomes our peace, both when we believe that He is our peace, and when we see Him as He is."

St. Ambrose describes this peace as the difference between being in the midst of a violent storm, whether out in a boat on the sea, or standing on a shore of total safety. When you are in the boat, you are afraid and worried that the boat will capsize, and you will be tossed into the seas, lost in the waves. When, however, you reach the shore, and stand on solid ground, even though the storm may continue to rage around you, your fears subside and you are at peace because you are safe and secure on land. Ambrose says, "Christ brought this safety and security to Christians when He brought an inner peace to their souls, so that our hearts should not be troubled or our spirit be distressed. The fruit of peace," writes Ambrose, "is the absence of disturbance in the heart".

The world's peace means the absence of war, no conflict, or terrorism or violence, no trials or difficulties in life—which truly, will never be realized until Jesus comes at the end of time. The peace of Jesus is an inner peace—a peace in the heart that comes from standing solidly within Jesus—from having Jesus within you, that in spite of the storms that rage around, your heart may be calm, because you are standing on the solid ground that is Jesus Christ.

And how do we receive that peace of Christ? How does His peace enter into our hearts, that we not be troubled or anxious, but calm in the midst of life's trials? By the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ comes to us in the Sacrament, the Mystery of His Body and Blood, broken and poured out for us, that we may eat and drink of His presence, have Him literally, physically in us, and with us. I can't remember how many people have told me, through the years that they come to communion, because it brings them peace. And that's as it should be. That's how it is, when Jesus' real presence is offered to us, and received by us, that we consume Him, and partake of His peace, that the peace of His sure and certain presence, may be in us, and drive to our hearts, to give to us, safety, and security, and yes, peace.

Yes, Jesus left His disciples when He ascended, departing this world and going to the Father. But He sent the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to be His presence, and to bring His presence to us, in the Sacrament of His Body and Blood, for us, that we may not be afraid or troubled, but at peace. And that's why we come now, to receive the peace of His presence. We come now to have His peace in us. We receive Him in the Lord's Supper that His peace may rule in our hearts, and lives.

But, we receive Him also, that as He is peace in us, we may be peace, in the world—not ending all war and violence and terrorism, not able to keep every home and family from trouble and turmoil, but in the midst of the swirling storms of life, being peace—being people of peace. With Christ in us, may we bring the peace of Christ, to our homes, our families, our workplaces, our schools, our neighborhoods. May the peace of Christ in our hearts, overflow, spilling from us, into the hearts and lives of others.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.