‘Do not let your hearts be troubled’

For those familiar with JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, you might recall the scene in which Gandalf the wizard and Pippin the hobbit are standing on the parapet of Gondor, looking out over the massive army of Mordor, on the brink of a battle they both fear will bring an end to Middle-earth. Pippen is frightened and overwhelmed by what lies before him; Gandalf is burdened and weary to the bone. It is at this moment – on the brink of destruction – that Pippen asks Gandalf about death. And Gandalf immediately changes; his face lightens, and his voice strengthens; and he tells Pippen of the journey ahead, beyond death. On the brink of war and destruction, he speaks of the greater journey into light and life.

At the Last Supper, knowing what would transpire in the morning, Jesus sat with his disciples. Death, his death and their scattering, was high on Jesus’ mind. The human fear of what was to come was already consuming him; in a few hours he would be sweating blood and begging his father to be spared. Jesus was consumed by the diabolical nature of what was coming. As for the disciples, they sensed the crisis moment arriving, but could not see the path ahead.

Into this moment of deep darkness, Jesus spoke words of illuminating light. He offered to his quaking and wavering friends a future, formed from enduring love and the offer of the gift of peace. “Do not let your hearts be troubled,” he said to them. Trust in the help of the Holy Spirit, your advocate. Jesus, in his darkest moment, looked into the future that would not end in his death, but would – somehow, and in trust – be the beginning of that deeper and eternal journey.

In a particular way this Sunday, our local Church is gathering across its parishes and communities to remember all our loved ones who died in the two years of lockdowns and restrictions during the pandemic. In our Book of Remembrance, we have already recorded more than 1,100 names of God’s friends. More names will come to be inscribed in this Book over the rest of this month of May. All of them, and others besides, have made now that journey into light and eternal life.

We who remain have, over these past two years, carried the sadness and anguish of not being able to properly farewell these members of our families, or friends we have made. We who have grieved without the means to properly say goodbye, are perhaps like the disciples or like Pippen, overwhelmed by the immediate sorrow and unknowing of what lies ahead. To us, Jesus now speaks his words of hope and healing, and of the greater journey that lies before us all. “Do not let your hearts be troubled,” he says again. And this time, we know that his words are true.

In so many ways, the road of human struggle remains for us. Covid continues to take its toll; war has reappeared; a new parliament will need to grapple with economic, social and security challenges; personal and family realities will always emerge. Yet, this road also extends into the hope of a new Jerusalem, and a new way of living. The journey of Jesus to his death was what enables our journey into his resurrection. It is to us that his love and peace are given, now that those we have loved are at peace.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace, and rise to glory.