Here is today’s Gospel, from St John: ‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor, to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you desolate; I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more, but you will see me; because I live, you will live also.  In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.  He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me; and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.’ (John 14:15-21)

‘I will not leave you desolate’. (John 14:18) The Greek word used here for ‘desolate’ is ‘orphanos’, from which our English word ‘orphans’ is derived. Yet Our Lord assures His disciples that He will come, and He promises that because He lives, they will also live.

This promise is held out to all of us; may we trust His promise, and so know peace and joy. May God bless you this day.