Sunday, May 29, 2011

The Gospel of John, chapter 14:15-21

People often get discouraged, tired, and feel like giving up. The early Christians had to deal with this temptation. Most of us feel this way at some time in our lives. We would like to find a magic answer to life’s weary problems. Our culture has answers for almost every pain. Have a headache? Pop an aspirin, a Tylenol, a bufferin, or an Excedrin. Have heartburn? Pop a pill that will work without sodium. Have a family problem? Attend a course on transactional analysis or EST. No matter what the problem, there is always a remedy for it advertised on television or in the press; on facebook or on YouTube.

No doubt, there are lots of wonderful developments in various medical fields that can relieve pain and suffering; that can extend people’s lifespan by many years, thus improving people’s productivity and quality of life, remarkably. These medical developments can improve our physical well-being, but are they the remedy for the cravings of the soul?

Is it really possible to obliterate the pain, the confusion and contradictions of everyday life by popping pills? Today’s scripture offers another remedy. The solution to life’s pain and problems is a solution from within: prepare to live in God’s favor and you will find contentment. This is the good news. The beautiful gospel of St. John talks about this good news.

What is it in practice? None other than the love of Christ. Our love for each other must be like the love Christ has for us. That is the gold standard of human behavior; it is the remedy, the ointment of life itself. This is the lasting remedy to life’s problems given to us by the Lord himself:
”Love one another as I have loved you.”

Fr. Hugh Duffy