Dear Friends, it is part of a priestly vocation to be open to change.
I am thinking about availability to be sent anywhere in the world in the spirit of obedience.
I have been moved from one place to another a few times and, I must admit,
it was always a challenging process. I guess, relocating to an unknown city or country
might be difficult for most of us, especially if we need to transfer the whole family.
It can also be hard to adjust to new weather conditions as well.
One of my friends decided to move out of the city recently. He was looking for a new home
in the country. Finally, he found an old house in need of renovation. He bought it
and spent a lot of time fixing it up. He wanted to prepare that place well so that everything could
be tidy for his family. However, his small children were not happy that their dad was
frequently away. They were often scared because their daddy wasn’t home at night. One evening,
when he came back from the country, he sat with them and gently explained that he had to go
the country ahead of them to make a new place liveable. When the renovations were finished, he
would come back and take all the family to the new home permanently. The result of this conversation
was that the children started to be excited about the new place waiting for them. Today’s Gospel
speaks about a similar setting. It is part of the Lord’s farewell speech to his disciples.
They were saddened and fearful. However, he told them, “Do not let your hearts be trouble
or afraid (Jn 14:1). I am going away and shall return” (Jn 14:3).
He was going to heaven to prepare a place for his friends. The Lord promised them
that he would come back and take them to heaven. Earlier in the same Gospel he said,
“There are many rooms in my Father’s house; if there were not, I should have told you.
I am going now to prepare a place for you, and after I have gone and prepared you a place,
I shall return to take you with me; so that where I am you may be too” (Jn 14:2-3).
Also, he promised that while He is away there will be someone else who will help his followers
in their earthly journey. “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you everything and remind you of all I have said to you” (Jn 14:26).
Brothers and Sisters, Jesus went to heaven to prepare a place for all of us, but he didn’t leave
us alone. He sent us the Holy Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit we know that we are beloved children
of God and can feel the peaceful presence of the Lord. His peace surpasses any earthly calmness.
Jesus said, “Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give,
this is my gift to you” (Jn 14:27). The Holy Spirit watches over us and he teaches us through
the Church all we need to know to get to heaven. The Holy Spirit guides us and comforts us each day
when we experience doubts and different problems in our daily lives. As our advocate he defends us
when we are attacked while sharing the truth of the Gospel. Let us praise Jesus for the gift of
the Holy Spirit. Let us thank him that he prepared for each one of us a place in heaven. Now we can
look forward with hope to the day when Jesus will return to take us to his everlasting home.
Meanwhile, let us choose to live in a state of grace and be prepared for his coming.
In the power of the Holy Spirit let us share with others our experience of God’s peace, love,
and joy that dwell in our hearts.