"My peace I give you"

             

Monday musical meditations on God's good news






















An opening prayer:

    Awake, my heart, with gladness!
    See what today is done;
    Now after gloom and sadness,
    Comes forth the glorious sun.
    My Savior there was laid
    Where our bed must be made
    When to the realms of light
    Our spirit wings its flight.

    The foe in triumph shouted 
    When Christ lay in the tomb.
    But lo, he now is routed;
    His boast is turned to gloom.
    For Christ again is free;
    In glorious victory
    He who is strong to save
    Has triumphed o’er the grave.

    This is a sight that gladdens— 
    What peace it does impart!
    Now nothing ever saddens
    The joy within my heart.
    No gloom shall ever shake,
    No foe shall ever take
    The hope which God’s own Son
    In love for me has won.

    He brings me to the portal
    That leads to bliss untold,
    Whereon this rhyme immortal
    Is found in script of gold:
    “Who there my cross has shared
    Finds here a crown prepared;
    Who there with me has died
    Shall here be glorified.” Amen.

John 14:23–29

  • Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

  •  25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

  •  28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.  29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.”

Good news questions

  • Jesus lives! His Spirit came to his apostles after his resurrection and reminded them of all he had taught them. (This is one way to describe how we got our New Testatment.)
  • What kind of peace does Jesus give by his Spirit? How?

For others pray

  • That God spreads the good news of the kingdom of the Son he loves in Burkina Faso

J.S. Bach's beautiful music for today

  • BWV 59 (YouTube, "Whoever Loves Me Will Keep My Word")
  • The cantata fits our Gospel beautifully. 
  • In it we pray for the Spirit of God to come.
  • We rejoice that he has come into our hearts.
  • What love! "What can God's love not do?"

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