Iron & Altar

In the world you will have trouble, but take courage: I have conquered the world. - John 16:33b

Paul finds twelve men in Ephesus who have genuine faith and have never heard of the Holy Spirit. Their baptism was real; it was John's. Paul does not dismiss what they have. He completes it - baptizes them in the Lord's name, lays hands on them, the Spirit comes. The completion of what is incomplete is not a correction of what was wrong. It is the gift of what was still waiting.

The disciples say to Jesus tonight: now you are speaking plainly. Now we believe. Jesus receives their faith and then names what is coming: the hour when they will be scattered, each to his own home. He does not shame them for the faith that will not survive the test. He gives them something to hold for when the scattering comes. In the world you will have trouble. Take courage. I have conquered the world.

Brother, the trouble is not evidence of God's absence. Jesus named it in advance so you would know that. The conquering is the larger fact, even when the trouble is loud and the conquering is quiet. Begin the novena today - nine days of asking for the Spirit's fullness before Pentecost. Paul laid hands on twelve men and the Spirit came. The same Spirit is waiting for the asking.

Name the specific trouble you are carrying today. Then say the sentence over it: take courage, I have conquered the world. Not as a feeling - as a decision to receive what Jesus said is true. And carry it to [name]: Lord, let this conquering be the larger fact for him too, even when the trouble is loud.

Lord, in the world there is trouble. I know the trouble. Let me know the conquering at equal weight - the larger fact, the peace you gave before the scattering, the courage you are offering now. Come, Holy Spirit. Alleluia. Amen.