A synopsis of the sermon delivered by the Rev. David L. Hicks at St. Paul’s Reformed Episcopal Church at the 10:30am service on Easter III, April 17, 2005. Please read St. John 14:1-21.

“Let not your heart be troubled.” These words that were spoken by our Lord to His disciples, shortly before His death on the cross, are often used as a source of comfort to Christians going through a difficult time. The Book of Common Prayer especially attaches these words to the service for the burial of the dead. Sometimes, though, it is difficult is listen to the words of Scripture when one is faced with stressful and anxious situations. It is very easy to say, “Let not your heart be troubled;” but how, exactly, does one go about not being troubled? Jesus’ words give the answer, “Ye believe in God, believe also in me” (Jn. 14:1). The peace of which Christ speaks is the peace that comes from faith. In the narrative of John’s Gospel we see that the disciples were about to undergo a very traumatic experience. All of their hopes and aspirations, which they had been placed upon Jesus, would be shattered in a matter of hours. Their Lord would be arrested, tortured and put to death on the cross. They needed to be prepared to face this great challenge, and our Lord’s words are given to that end. Jesus’ bids them to trust in Him, no matter what the outward circumstances are. The disciples are assured that the Lord will come again for those who trust Him: “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (Jn. 14:2-3).

Just like the disciples, we too may have many good reasons to be troubled and afraid. Will we concentrate on the things that trouble us, or will we rest in the peace that comes from knowing Jesus Christ? It is the simple faith, or trust, that the believer has in Christ that is the source of assurance and peace. Times of trial are occasion for that trust to be made known to us in a new way. It is easy to say, “I believe in God,” or “I am trusting in Jesus;” but it is only in the time testing that we know how genuine that trust really is. As we face various troubling matters this week, remember that our Lord Jesus bids us not to be troubled but to trust in Him. Indeed, He is preparing a place for us, and we know that He will come for us that we may be where He is also. “Let not your heart be troubled,” he says, “Ye believe in God, believe also in me. 
Amen.