Homily for Tuesday of the 5th Week of Easter

In today's Gospel passage, Jesus offers comfort and courage to His disciples who are worried about His impending death. He tells them, "Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid," a message that is a recurring theme throughout the Gospel. This reassures us of Jesus's unwavering love and support.

As disciples of Jesus, there are times when we need to be challenged and times when we need to be encouraged. Both Jesus and St. Paul knew how to provide encouragement when a renewed heart was needed.

Today, the Risen LORD continues to encourage His disciples. When we get discouraged about our options, it can bring us down and hinder us from doing what is within our power. The LORD wants to put fresh enthusiasm into our hearts, which the Gospel describes as a peace that the world cannot give. This peace is not the absence of conflict, but a deep sense of tranquility and security that comes from a strong faith in Jesus.

Therefore, it is good to invite Jesus to put fresh enthusiasm into our hearts so that we can be joyful in living by our faith. He strengthens us through the Holy Spirit, who is often called the "Comforter" or "Consoler." So, we turn to the Holy Spirit and pray for the refreshment and renewal we need.