Commentary

6th Sunday - C
John 14:23-29

God Is With Us - the Presence of Peace

At the last supper, Jesus gives his disciples his farewell gift of peace. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you." But this is not just some words of encouragement of one who is bidding farewell to his friends.

Jesus assures his friends that his gift of peace is greater than anything the world can offer, "Not as the world gives do I give it to you." [1]

This gift of peace from Jesus is so marvelous because it comes from the ever presence of God among us. Jesus promises those who love him and keep his word the divine presence of God's love, "My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him."

We experience this divine presence in a special way in the Eucharistic celebration, where Christ is present in the Eucharist, in His word, in the minister, and in all members of the Church, who "are gathered together in his name". [2]

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[1] Francis J. Moloney, SDB., The Gospel of John, Sacra Pagina series. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1998; p. 410.
[2] The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of Vatican II teaches, "Christ is always present in His Church, especially in her liturgical celebrations. He is present in the sacrifice of the Mass, not only in the person of His minister, (...) but especially under the Eucharistic species. By His power He is present in the sacraments, .... He is present in His word, since it is He Himself who speaks when the holy scriptures are read in the Church. He is present, lastly, when the Church prays and sings, for He promised: "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matt. 18:20) . (Paragraph 7, http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html)