Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Easter

To-day's gospel reading is from John (14:27-31A), who I confess I find St. John extremely difficult to understand at times.


Jesus said to his disciples:
“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.
You heard me tell you,
‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’
If you loved me,
you would rejoice that I am going to the Father;
for the Father is greater than I.
And now I have told you this before it happens,
so that when it happens you may believe.
I will no longer speak much with you,
for the ruler of the world is coming.
He has no power over me,
but the world must know that I love the Father
and that I do just as the Father has commanded me.”


In Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, the Lady Galadriel gave the Fellowship encouragement after the fall of Mithrandir. When they first entered Lorien, she greeted them with Christ's words: 'Do not let your hearts be troubled'.