Monday 2 June 2025 - In me you may have peace

Monday 2 June 2025

Today is Monday the 2nd of June, in the 7th week of Eastertide.     The community of Taizé sing Frieden, Frieden: Peace I leave you, my peace I give you.    (Lyrics currently unavailable)  Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.    John 16:29-33  His disciples said, ‘Yes, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure of speech! Now we know that you know all things, and do not need to have anyone question you; by this we believe that you came from God.’ Jesus answered them, ‘Do you now believe? The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!’  In today’s reading, Jesus is talking to his disciples on that sombre occasion of their Last Supper together. Do you think, in the light of this passage, that Jesus’ disciples always understood him? And do you always understand him?    Jesus says to them, “You will be scattered…and you will leave me alone”. To the world, Jesus’ mission might have seemed to be a disastrous failure... Imagine being one of the disciples, not fully knowing what is to come, and hearing Jesus say this... what might your reaction be?     Now listen as the story is read once more. Is there anything that really strikes you this time?  John 16:29-33  His disciples said, ‘Yes, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure of speech! Now we know that you know all things, and do not need to have anyone question you; by this we believe that you came from God.’ Jesus answered them, ‘Do you now believe? The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!’  Jesus says to them (and to us, of course), “I have said this to you so that in me you may have peace”. Do you feel peace in the presence of Jesus? Talk with Jesus about this now, or about anything else that has arisen for you in this time of prayer...   Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.   As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be  World without end  Amen