Date: May 19th & 22nd
Preacher: Pastor Ashley Rosa-Ruggieri
First Reading: Acts 16:9-15
Psalmody: Psalm 67
Second Reading: Revelation 21:10, 22--22:5
Gospel: John 14:23-29
When I was around seven years old, I remember helping my Nana decorate our house for Christmas. There were the normal decorations like the tree, snow-covered items, and stockings that I had helped decorate with for years, but this year I was more confident in my reading than before. And so, when we went to put our stockings on the mantle, and I realized that the hooks they hung from were letters to form a word, I was quite excited. There were five letters, and I rearranged them a few times before I was told that they were correct, and then I had to try pronouncing the word. I tried several iterations of peak, pee-ache, pace, pess, pee-ace, until finally arriving at peace. Very proud of myself, it took me a moment to realize that not only did I not know how to say the word, I also did not know what it meant. I don’t remember how she explained it to me them, but when I think about the word peace now, I think there are many ways it can be used and interpreted in society today.
Is peace an absence of war, is it an atmosphere of silence, is it the calm after the storm, is it a state of rest and healing, is it a condemnation of those who disrupt the status quo, is it the time of reconciliation after conflict? Is it all of these things and more? The word peace has many meanings or connotations attached to it, and so when we read in our Gospel today that Jesus has given us his peace, it makes sense for us to wonder what that might mean and what that might look like in our world today. But, Jesus does not only promise us his peace, he also reminds us of the Holy Spirit, a companion gifted to us in our walk here on Earth. The two promises of these gifts within a few verses of one another is interesting because throughout Christian history, the idea of peace and the way we talk about and portray the Holy Spirit have many similarities.
In art, the Holy Spirit is often depicted as a dove, which is also a symbol of peace. We have scripture that tells us when we are tired and rundown so much that we do not know what to pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes through sighs too deep for words, bringing the peace which surpasses all understanding. Even when we might find ourselves in moments of peaceful rest, the very breaths we are taking to ground ourselves in that moment of calm bring forth the promise of the Holy Spirit, the breath of life. These attributes of the Holy Spirit and the concept of peace often overlap with one another, connecting the two even without necessarily meaning to. But in our passage today, Jesus is promising us both the peace that he gives and that the Holy Spirit will be with us to teach us and remind us of Jesus’s teachings. Knowing these intersections between peace and the Holy Spirit can be helpful, but only if we consider the full scope of what their connection to one another can look like in many forms.
When we consider what “peace” means in our society, there is often a tendency to go to one extreme of the word. That extreme frequently involves a place of stillness, non-confrontational conversation and action, or an individual sense of rest. If this is how we tend to understand peace in society, then there can be a similar reaction to the Holy Spirit. That the Holy Spirit leads and guides us in ways that are still, non-confrontational, and provide individual rest. But this view of the Holy Spirit and even of peace limits us to a societal understanding, rather than on one that is gifted to us by Jesus. We know that the peace that comes from Jesus is not the peace of this world, it is the peace that comes from the Lord alone. This peace is one of wholeness, justice, and community. Peace from God is a peace that creates space for all. Space that is safe, hospitable, affirming, and equitable.
The peace given to us by Jesus is one that we are still trying to find properly here on Earth. It is a peace that seeks justice for all and yearns to eradicate systems that erode away any chance of peace in the lives of the marginalized. It is the same peace that Jesus has taught us to seek for all, peace that comes with being fed, clothed, safe, comforted, affirmed, and free. This kind of peace that we have been given and taught about by Jesus confronts the voices in this world that try to make peace into the absence of conflict. But we are called to identify where God’s peace is not reaching those around us, and move toward a world where that peace exists for all. We know this not only because peace from the Lord is different than the world’s peace, but also because of this promise of the Holy Spirit.
In this passage the Spirit is described as our Advocate and as someone who teaches and reminds us of Jesus’s call to follow him. An Advocate to help us in our moments when it is difficult to name the harm that can come from putting the idea of peace over the safety and wellbeing of people. Peace is not true peace if some are silenced in the pursuit of it. But, we have the Holy Spirit, our Advocate, our teacher, to guide us in ways that follow the peace given to us by Jesus rather than what the world says is peace. And in our journey towards this peace from the Lord, led by our Advocate the Holy Spirit, we are called to persevere and not lose heart. In our Gospel Jesus says he gives us his peace and then urges us not to be afraid or troubled. When we seek the peace taught to us by Jesus and it feels like the world is pushing back, we are called to not be afraid. We anchor ourselves to the one who promises us peace and an Advocate in our journey. Seek the peace given to us by Jesus, peace that is unlike the peace of the world, peace that establishes safety, justice, rest, and hope for all. Do not let your hearts be troubled by the obstacles and do not be afraid when the journey seems endless. But always know that the Holy Spirit, our teacher, guide, companion, and Advocate is calling out for the same peace we are seeking, and reminds us that living into that peace is how we follow Jesus. Thanks be to God.