Good Book Club: John 14:15-31

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

18 “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 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. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me; 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us be on our way.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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St. John’s, Tallahassee is located a mere quarter of a mile from the Florida State Capitol. We are three traffic lights and a creaky door from the doors of the capitol where our church fathers helped establish the state and many of our parishioners still work daily on both sides of the aisle.

In a world where “legislative session” strikes most hearts with anxiety and passion simultaneously, St. John’s offers that peace that passeth understanding to all who enter in for a private moment of prayer, lunch at our café, or a weekday noonday Eucharist in our chapel.

Jesus’ words today remind us that it is God’s love that roots us in the center of our being. God’s love gives us strength to negotiate the day and keeps our hearts from being disturbed or troubled beyond all reason. While God calls us to be advocates for the weak and vulnerable, God also calls us to not let short term challenges deter us from knowing that God’s love endures even the most challenging of times.

On this Valentine’s Day, as my city and state are well into this year’s legislative session, my prayer is that each moment today is spent knowing that even when Jesus, himself, knows that there were hard times ahead, his biggest concern was for those around him, that they might not get discouraged.

Lord, help us to share this Christ-like love, the love for one another as a community no matter the cost.