Calvary Presbyterian Church
The Rev. Debra May Cerra
May 9, 2010

Psalms 67:1-7 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, 2 that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. 4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah 5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. 6 The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us. 7 May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere him.
John 14:23-29 (NRSV) Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me. 25 "I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27 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. 28 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. 29 And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe.
“The Peace of the Lord”

Have you ever been lost? I can still remember the first time that I got separated from my mom when we were shopping. We were in Two Guys from Harrison, a discount store and supermarket popular in northern New Jersey from 1946 through the early 1980’s . Mom was pushing the grocery cart and told me to hold onto the side. As we walked up and down the aisles, something caught my attention and I let go to linger at the counter. It was only a moment but when I looked up, Mom was gone. I panicked. I remember whimpering, “Mommy, Mommy,” as the tears rolled down my face. I ran left and then, retracing my steps, I ran right. Then I remembered Mom’s counsel to me, “If you ever get lost, stay where you are. I will find you.” Not sure if my retraced steps returned me to the same spot, I decided to just stand still – with tears still rolling down my cheeks. Minutes later – which seemed like hours to a 6 year old – I heard a familiar sound, “Debbie, Debbie. I’m here. Don’t be afraid. Mommy’s here.” Hearing her voice was comforting. When she got by my side, she gave me a hug and complimented me on remembering her direction to stay put. I stopped crying, knowing that I was safe. And you know what? Mom never chastised me for letting go of that cart. She didn’t have to…
This morning, our Gospel text is part of a larger segment known as the “Farewell Discourse of Jesus” to His disciples. The bad news of this passage is that Jesus is going away. The good news is Jesus’ promise that the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, will come to the disciples. Like when my Mother found me in that store, the Holy Spirit will bring peace and comfort to the followers of Jesus when they are afraid and feel lost.
Many times you will hear part of our Gospel text read at funerals. Listen again to Jesus’ words: “I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 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.” (25-27)
What Jesus is NOT saying is we can find a replacement or some other compensation to make us feel better whenever we experience a significant loss in our lives. Jesus knows that when a person grieves, there are no magical or mystical words that will take away the pain and the sorrow. When we have a loss, the pain is real and our grieving is a process that takes time.
In the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church, Easter joy is referenced in the words used at a burial. The church has added notation to this liturgy so people can understand that Easter joy does not negate personal grief. The note says: “This joy, however, does not make human grief unchristian. The very love we have for each other in Christ brings deep sorrow when we are parted by death. Jesus himself wept at the grave of his friend.’”
Deep sorrow will soon overcome the disciples. Jesus, knowing that they face anxiety, fear, and trouble hearts, promises to leave them with His peace. (27) The peace that the Lord gives is very different than the peace which the world desires. In the world the cry for peace pleads for a time with no conflict. World peace wants to eliminate chaos and disagreement; to eradicate hostility and war. In a world of striff and suffering, world peace seems to have unattainable goals.
The peace that Jesus offers is far different. HIs peace does not promise a void of conflict…we know that all Christians face problems and sorrows. Christ’s peace does not remove something; the peace of Christ adds something. Christ’s peace imparts the presence of God into a situation or into a person’s life. When we have the presence of God in any situation, a balance is attained. And this balance brings comfort and counsel, encouragement and guidance.
In 1520 Ferdinand Magellan battled for an entire year to find a passage around South America. There, at the very tip of the continent, in its icy waters he encountered some of the worst weather anywhere on earth. Raging seas, towering ice floes, and a mutinous crew plagued his efforts. When he finally made his way through those straits (which today bear his name -- the Straits of Magellan), he entered into a great body of water that lay beyond, and as he and his men lifted their faces to heaven and gave thanks to God, he named the new ocean "The Peaceful One -- the Pacific Ocean."
Magellan did not know what he would find on the other side of the continent. But when he got through the straits, he entered calmer waters of a new ocean. There he and his crew gave thanks to God for the new-found peace.
 As Jesus prepares for his death, He knows what His disciples are facing. Tough times are ahead. Jesus is about to ascend to His Father. This leaves the disciples on their own – fending for themselves without Jesus in their midst. The waters will be rough; the going will be tough.
But Jesus also knows that, even with the fear and grief of this radical change in their lives, the disciples will not be alone. Jesus promises them the One who will comfort and counsel. Jesus promises them the One who will bring His peace – that is the presence of God – into the situation. Jesus promises the disciple the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is to the church what Jesus was to the disciples. It is through the presence of the Holy Spirit that the words of Jesus are remembered. It is through the presence of the Holy Spirit that we are led to Christ for our salvation. It is through the presence of the Holy Spirit that we are able to serve Jesus. The Holy Spirit comforts and counsels, encourages and guides. Indeed, it is the Holy Spirit that imparts the presence of God, And it is in the presence of God that we experience peace.
Several years ago a submarine was being tested and had to remain submerged for many hours. When it returned to the harbor, the captain was asked, "How did last night’s terrible storm affect you?" The officer looked at him in surprise and exclaimed, "Storm? We didn't even know there was one!" The sub had been so far beneath the surface that it had reached the area known to sailors as "the cushion of the sea." Although the ocean may be whipped into huge waves by high winds, the waters below are never stirred.
This, I believe, is a fine example of the peace that comes from Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. We may face the waves of worry and fear, of heartbreak and grief but when we rest in the Lord, there is a sense that we will get through the storm. Though emotions are whipped into huge waves that crash all around us, our souls are secure in Christ. In the presence and grace of God and with the encouragement and guidance of the Holy Spirit, God’s perfect peace sees us through. This is the peace which only Christ can provide.
Amen and amen.