GOSPEL POWER |MAY 4, 2021

TUESDAY | 5th Week of Easter| Gospel: Jn 14: 27 – 31a

Jesus said to his disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me; but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father.”

REFLECTION

The Gospel of John portrays the world as ruled by the  prince of darkness. Jesus comes into the world as its light  (Jn 8:12), and darkness cannot overcome him (Jn 1:5). He  will break the grip of darkness over the world and thus save it, for  this is the will of his heavenly Father. But Jesus will not engage the  forces of darkness in their own terms, through a grandiose display  of might and violence. Rather, he will voluntarily surrender himself,  for the kenotic logic of God works through self-emptying love, and divine power operates in weakness. The crucifixion, therefore, is not  the defeat of Jesus, but the definitive victory of kenotic love.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, increase our faith that, just as the darkness did not overcome  you, it will neither overcome us, who are united with you. Amen.