Today's liturgy brings us full circle into the centre-point and essence of all spirituality: our deepest, innate desire to belong wholly to God. Jesus shows us the only way to such intimacy with God; it is an unprecedented new relationship with the Father, from whom all life springs.

No longer do we need to seek out heavenly habitations to see and experience this new way of life. For the Father and the Son will come personally to make their abode within us if we but keep faithful to His Word; if we but allow this God to take possession of all our being. It means on our part a process of "letting go" which could frighten us and Jesus well knows the demands that our faith and hope would make on us. So He promised an "advocate" who would always be on our side to enlighten and lead us into His total peace.

This indwelling presence of God replaces the physical Jesus, which the disciples need to "let go" to experience the power of the Spirit within. It is this experience that will help us cling on to His Word and keep us from being disturbed by the terrifying events that shake up the world we live in.