In today’s gospel Jesus says, "Let not your hearts be troubled." It sounds wonderful, but we know that we are routinely troubled for lots of good reasons. Loved ones are sick or dying, our children might be causing us some excessive grief, money may be tight, our employment is insecure, the world is a violent place, (i.e. the numerous shootings and murders within our city, and also what’s going on in Iraq), and then, maybe the future is by no means to certain.

In today’s 1^st reading their were some Jewish Christians who were very troubled about the fact that the Gentile Christians were not being circumcised in accord with mosaic law, and, as the reading says, this caused "no little dissension and debate" amongst the brothers. In a similar situation we have some people who are deeply troubled by the upcoming merger of our parish with the other 3 parishes, and by the fact that our parish name may have to change, as well as some other concerns.

In today’s gospel, with its setting at the last supper, Jesus gives two farewell gifts to his disciples (and us). The first is the gift from the Father, who sends us the Holy Spirit to instruct us in everything. The second is Jesus’ gift of his peace, and the assurance that it is a peace that the world cannot give. These gifts are always there for us, and no one can take them away.

The reading from Acts today assures us that it was, 1^st and foremost, through the inspiration and direction of the Holy Spirit, who, Jesus assures us in the gospel, will instruct us in everything, and then only secondly, through the deliberations of the apostles and elders of the church, that the problem in the early church was resolved. We must be mindful, and have faith and trust in the fact that the Holy Spirit still inspires and guides the church today. That was Jesus’ promise to us, and his word is truth.

In today’s second reading St. John gives us a vision of the celestial Jerusalem where there is perfect calm and radiant perfection; where there exists a complete absence of the chaos and confusion that is part and parcel of our everyday living and life.

The late advice columnist, Ann Landers, use to receive about 10,000 letters a month. According to her, the most common topic was about the fact that most people seemed to be afraid of something. They were afraid about their failing health, their jobs, their family, poor relationships, etc., etc. Some were even afraid when there was no reason to be afraid. We are a world of fearful people.

Jesus said in the gospel that the peace he gives is not as the world gives. The world’s approach to peace is that of escape, the avoidance and absence of trouble, and a refusal to face unpleasant things. The world promises peace through the rule of law. Law and order is the only way for a society and a people to experience peace, but that law and order must be kept by the aggressive use of force. That is the only way the world can bring about peace.

The peace of Christ, on the other hand, is more than the absence of trouble. It includes everything which makes for our highest good. Jesus offers the peace which conquers our fears and anxieties. Nothing can take us from the peace and joy of Jesus Christ. No sorrow or grief, no danger, no suffering can make it less. Jesus tells us that if we obey his word, then He and the Father will come to us and make a home within us; right in our heart. Not by force, but by choice. And, their abiding in our heart will bring us true peace. The world’s peace is peace through strength, whereas, the Lord’s peace is peace through surrender.

St. John offers us in today’s 2^nd reading, a vision, as an assurance of what will be, but also as a reminder of what already is. For in God’s reign, the holy city, known as the Kingdom Come, waits along side of, and in a real sense, is already within the earthly city of our living and life. If we wish to know the kind of absolute peace, which the world cannot give, then all we need do is to invite the Kingdom Come fully into our lives.

There is often much confusion over the phrase - Kingdom Come. We often confuse it with the end of the world or at the hour of death. But the Kingdom Come is when God’s will is done, and is mirrored on earth as it is in heaven. It is not some future or final event, but the consequence of an act of our own free will. When we align our will with God’s will, then St. John’s vision of the holy city becomes amazingly and marvelously real in us.