Once again Jesus turns the tables with the readings. The stage is set for the Gospel with the first reading from Acts. Paul is in Ephesus and finds some disciples there. He asks them “did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” and they basically replied “never heard of him.” Turns out they had received John’s baptism of repentance which also pointed the way to Jesus and reception of the Holy Spirit. Paul then baptizes them in the name of the Lord Jesus and  the Holy Spirit came upon them. There were “about twelve men” and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. An echo of Pentecost and affirmation of the Truth that is Jesus. So now we have twelve men again, ready to receive Truth, which turns back to the Gospel of John.

The original disciples affirm their newly deepened faith that Jesus “knows everything” and that he came from God. Here Jesus responds with a bit of a table-turner: instead of replying “right you are” to them, answers with “Do you believe now?” He foretells their scattering and desertion of him, and we are reminded of Peter’s strong affirmation followed by denial before the crucifixion. You would think these remarks would deflate the newly deepened faith of the disciples.  But Jesus again changes the mood with his reassurance that he really won’t be left alone by their desertion. He still has the Father. “I have told you this so that you might have peace in me." And the Lord's final reassurance to eliminate the anxieties that plague us all: “In this world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.”

So much meat in these readings! How often have I declared my profound faith in the Lord only to realize shortly after that I had failed? I forget the thank the Lord for favors granted in response to fervent prayer. What troubles in my life and in the lives of my loved ones and the world have I failed to give over in surrender and trust to Jesus who has conquered the world? Do I always remember I am not alone, but have the Father always? Jesus’ desire expressed so tenderly :

”I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.”

May we come back again and again in the midst of our troubles and of those we love to the realization that we are never alone and the Lord want us always to have peace in him.