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"BUT THE COUNSELOR,
Brother Tom Junis' Junior Theology class was asked to prayerfully reflect on the Gospel of John, chapter 14. Students wrote about how this passage related to their class studies and how God is speaking to them through the Scriptures.
Read the Gospel of John, chapter 14.
Artwork: da Caravaggio, Michelangelo. 1601. The Supper at Emmaus. [Oil and tempera on canvas]. The National Gallery. London.
This passage relates fairly closely to the work we have been doing in class recently. The passage has multiple places in which it is stated that belief in Jesus and His words should be our highest priority, for a number of reasons that link up with what we’ve learned in class. Primarily, and the one that stuck out to me the most, was the idea that by believing in Jesus, we will do works that Jesus does, and along with us, God will do even greater works.
It is also brought up in the passage that God would send the Holy Spirit to the disciples to allow them to remember the words that Jesus had just said to them. As we know, after the disciples receive the Holy Spirit, they begin to go out and do good works in the name of God. This links back to the class with the idea that our moral lives cannot be accomplished without the Holy Spirit, along with the idea that things like the gifts of piety, fortitude, and counsel all come from the Holy Spirit as well.
I spent a while thinking about what Jesus meant when he said that He would give us peace unlike the peace that the world can offer us. I believe I have come to my own answer, at least, one that is applicable today. The world today is a very busy and loud place. Often, one might say that peace in today’s world comes from getting away from the rush and the noise and to be alone and quiet. Jesus is offering to us the idea of peace through communion, both with Himself and also with others, through the Church and other similar areas like retreats. Jesus offers us peace with others as opposed to today’s idea of peace through solitude.
Lucas Faircloth (Class of 2023) was born and raised in Westwego, LA. He is a member of the Robotics club, the ESports club, the Chess club, the Science National Honors Society, and National Honors Society.
Artwork: West, Benjamin. 1801. The Ascension. [Detail; Oil on canvas]. Denver Art Museum. Denver.
The main message I took from the passage is one of faith in the power and plan that God has for all of us. Jesus himself stayed strong despite knowing of his soon to be death and suffering, all because of his deep faith in the strength of the Father. We have learned of the many graces and gifts God has given us in the recent classes, and this only serves to magnify the meaning received. God has given us these gifts not to merely have them, but to fulfill the plan he has for us, go out into the world, with grace in our hearts, and the strength of our own free will to show our love to all.
The secondary factor of this is the ending lines. Jesus speaks that he will fall to the ruler of this world, of his own volition and that of his Father, which gives us insight on what strength truly is. The king of the Earth truly has no power over Jesus, Jesus simply allows him to take him, which lets us see the main focus of what Jesus wants us to know, that power and strength come from the heart, the Spirit, from God; The power of the worldly king only goes so far as he does, in this world, but we should instead focus on the power of the next world, the one of the true king. This King, God, will satisfy us in all ways as we become one through the strength of our faith.
Jason Brown, Jr. (Class of 2023) was born and raised in Marrero, LA. He is a member of the Archbishop Shaw Swimming, Lacrosse, and Wrestling teams. He is a member of the Robotics club, the Student Government Organization, Mu Alpha Theta Honors Society, and Science Honors Society. He is the Treasurer of the Spanish Honors Society and Secretary of National Honors Society. He and his family attend Visitation of Our Lady Catholic Church where he is a lector.
Artwork: Van Eyck, Hubert. 1436. Genter Altar, Altar des Mystischen Lammes, obere mittlere Haupttafe. [Oil on panel]. Kathedrale Saint Bravo. Ghent.
Br. Tom Junis grew up as the third of three children in Bloomington, Illinois. He earned his Bachelor of Education from Illinois State University. He has been with the Salesians for six years and this is his second year at Archbishop Shaw.
Cover: Maíno, Juan Bautista. 1615-20. Pentecostés. [Oil on canvas]. Museo del Prado. Madrid.
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