JUNE22025

For the past several weeks the Gospel for the day has been taken from what is known as the Last Discourse, chapters 14-17 of St. John’s Gospel. The Discourse given at the Last Supper is something of Jesus’ last will and testament, his final instructions to the apostles and disciples. And as is so often the case, they aren’t quite getting it. They think that from now everything will be coming up roses. This is, of course, right before Jesus suffering and death and he knows that will not be the case, that there is so much difficulty to get through. But he assures his disciples that no matter how things seem to be going, all will be well. “In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” That is a lesson for us in our times when trouble seems all around us. Notice that Jesus is not saying what he is going to do but what he has already done, he has overcome all the troubles of this world. We have hope no matter our troubles because Jesus is the Lord of History who give us his Holy Spirit for the renewal of all things.