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“Whoever loves me will keep my word… yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me.” John 14:23-24

On most Sunday mornings, the Word Of God that is proclaimed at Mass comes from four different parts of Scripture: the Old Testament, the Psalms, the New Testament epistles, and one of the four Gospels. It’s usually easy to detect a theme, a single thread that ties all of them together, even though they were written hundreds of years apart. Together, the readings paint a picture of mankind’s relationship with God over the centuries. I like to listen for a verse, a short phrase, or even a single word that speaks to my heart and helps me to understand my own personal relationship with God right now, today.

When we open the Gospels at church or at home, we have the life and message of Jesus Christ, in detail, right in front of us. We read how Jesus revealed that He was, indeed, the promised Messiah, sent by God the Father, to proclaim the coming of the Kingdom and to give His life for the salvation of all who would believe in Him.

As Jesus was nearing the end of His ministry, He told His disciples that He would soon have to leave them, and that His mission would then become their mission: to spread the Good News of the Kingdom of God to all the world. But Jesus never expected them to do it on their own. “These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:25-26).

When we read the New Testament, we read the words the Apostles wrote and taught. Guided by the Holy Spirit, they recorded the teachings, parables and miracles of the Son of God. They told the stories of His ministry and of His death and resurrection. They recounted many of the ups and downs of their own amazing three-year internship with Jesus, such as in Mark 4:40, when Jesus says to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” You can almost hear the disappointment in the Lord’s voice. On the other hand, there is John 6:68, when Peter stands up and says, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” We can relate to these stories, because our own faith journeys may have similar ups and downs. And so, with Bible in hand, we ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes, enlighten our minds, and touch our hearts. He draws us in and whispers, “there is so much more, keep reading!”

That’s what happened this morning when I sat down to write this reflection. This has been a busy week with no time for writing, but today is the day! Today I have plenty of time on my hands, since my cardiologist gave me orders to stay home and take it easy. I am scheduled for a CT scan tomorrow, and I’m trying not to think about it too much. So instead, I decided to focus on a passage I heard recently, John 14:21-26. I thought it might help me get started if I read the surrounding verses. The very next verse, John 14:27, says:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you.

Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”

Just what I needed to hear today! Thank you, Holy Spirit.

The Good News is constantly unfolding. There is always more, so much more. Keep reading!

BTW, I wrote this several years ago and my test results were all good. Thanks be to God.