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Gospel Reading for May 20, 2025 – John 14: 27-31a
TEMPORARY
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.”
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There are so many concerns nowadays – so many companies did not survive the pandemic, therefore many lost their jobs. What makes it worst is the availability of jobs for them. Now that AI is advancing, we can expect less jobs to be available. Algorithm on computers will do the job that humans used to do and we cannot stop it. It is called PROGRESS.
The problem with PROGRESS is that it also has negative effects, especially on humans and their environment, such as the erosion of traditional values and norms, material gains become more important than human relationships, and environmental damage, among others. It is no wonder that especially among the young, it is so easy to fall into depression and addiction which later develop into mental problems. Families that struggle to make both ends meet start feeling desperate too.
If only humans develop TRUE FAITH in God and listen to Jesus whose gift of peace is ours for the taking, we will realize that all these will pass. We need not be troubled and afraid. Life on earth is TEMPORARY. We can look forward to a life of bliss in the next.
Let us ponder on the lines of this song that Danny Gokey wrote, PEACE –
Anybody out there got some troubles?
Anybody out there got some heartache? Me too
Just when You think it can’t get any worse
Somehow it gets worse, but my friend, hold on
When it feels like I might have a breakdown
I got friend closer than a brother saying
“Lay down Your burdens, Your heartache, Your hurting”
It may not make sense, but here in this mess
I have peace
I have peace
Peace that surpasses understanding
I know life’s out of my hands
But I’ll make it through
‘Cause I got You
When my world’s in a thousand pieces
Jesus, You’re the only reason
I have peace
Let me go a little further,
I’m about to break it down
Every life has two choices
You can let go or You can control
I chose to let go, now deep in my soul
I have peace
I have peace
Peace that surpasses understanding
I know life’s out of my hands
But I’ll make it through
‘Cause I got You
When my world’s in a thousand pieces
Jesus, You’re the only reason
I have peace,
In the valley, in the waiting
In the trials, in the hurting
Even in a hospital, facing the impossible
You give me peace
Even pain, persecution
Take it all away,
there’s one thing I’m not losing
I feel the wave of Your presence
wash over my soul
And I know, yes, I know…
