5th Week of Easter 2019 - Last School Mass - Perfect Joy

Just about a month ago, we all gathered for prayer, here in the church, on Holy Thursday. We spoke about the words and actions of Jesus at the Last Supper. Jesus knew he was about to die, and so the lessons he taught at the Last Supper would be pretty important, don’t you think.

He taught a lesson about humble service by washing the feet of his disciples. No act of service is too dirty, no act of service is too lowly or too difficult for the follower of Jesus. We must wash feet, as our Master washed feet.

Secondly, he taught a lesson about the Church. He wanted the Church to celebrate the Eucharist in his memory. Taking bread, taking wine, Jesus said, “DO THIS in memory of me.” And, when we do this, Jesus becomes really present: bread and wine are really changed into his body and blood.

Thirdly, Jesus taught by his words. And today’s Gospel is part of the speech he gave, his final farewell sermon. When someone knows they are about to die, you listen carefully to their last words because people aren’t going to waste their final breaths on insignificant statements.

And so what were the words Jesus just uttered, what was his most important lesson? Do you want to be happy? Do you want to have joy? Do you want to have eternal life? Follow my commandments. God wants us to have joy. Jesus says, God wants your joy to be complete, he wants your joy to be perfect.

And what is the key that unlocks the door of joy? Following Jesus’ commandments. Now, we might think, following commandments is hard, it’s difficult. It’s hard to pray every day, when you have the excitement of summer vacation. It’s hard to go to church every Sunday, when you have other things to do. It’s hard to love those who hurt you. It’s hard to be faithful in times of temptation. It’s hard to share your things with others: to give food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty.

As hard as these things might be, Jesus, in the final discourse of his life, says, do these things, and you will have joy.

Friends, I hope your summer is filled with joy. But I promise you, joy will not be discovered by playing video games all day. It will not be found in selfishness or envying the possessions of others. It will not be found on the internet or with a mobile phone in your hand. It will not be found in skipping church or the million and one other activities the world has to offer. I pray, teachers and students, that you will discover the perfect joy of friendship and true discipleship of Jesus Christ this summer, by practicing the faith daily in your words and actions, by daily prayer, daily acts of service,
love of God and neighbor for the glory of God and salvation of souls.