Grace and peace to you from the Holy Trinity; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Saying Goodbye is never easy. 

Especially in Minnesota, where we practice the long goodbye. 

Our gospel reading from John is a portion of what is known as Jesus’ farewell discourse. 

In both cases we have positive words to hear; a good bye, and a fare well. 

Jesus answered, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” 

A promise to return is not the unimaginable that Jesus would simply up and leave, but the assurance of making a home with us. 

A goodbye full of the Good News of God’s Abiding Love for us! I want to share a poem with you that I read at our recent council meeting. Love Abides, by Barbara Pescan 

Often we are found in our grief and comforted 

Calmed by some kindness 

Brought alive again by beauty 

That catches us undefended. 

Even when the sun is most thin and far 

Even at the hour the storm is at its height 

We can go through 

Renewal nests within sorrow 

Love abides, even beyond anger, beyond death.

We are held in an embrace invisible but infinite 

Moving with all creation 

Between wholeness and fragmentation 

Moving always toward the one. 

Small joys and great sorrows pass 

And we, with steps uncertain, move on 

To whatever is next 

But continually seen, heard, held 

By Life infinite and remote, intimate and abiding. 

Love, do not let us go. Amen 

Living with God in a spirit of truth is first and foremost a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. 

I recently attended the graduation ceremony of my youngest child, who is now a young adult. 

Last Sunday was her graduation from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. 

She earned a B.A. in Strategic Communication from the Hubbard School of Journalism at the U. 

I was very proud of all of her hard work and dedication. 

The graduation ceremony, a farewell address and an interesting experience of advocacy for all of the eager graduates. 

I think there were about 1100 graduates and over 6000 adoring friends and family.

Each family received only 6 tickets, so we were only able to include Siri’s grandma and grandpa, both soon to be 93. 

We got there early and were able to get seats right at the top and probably the furthest away from the stage. 

Looking down upon the soon to be graduates we were pretty sure that we had narrowed down where my daughter was sitting. 

After about two hours of names, grandpa, my dad, two rows behind me yelled down, “Did she graduate yet?” 

Those around including myself chucked and I said not yet, but real soon. 

Fortunately his question alerted us to pay attention and soon they called her name, Siri Poeschl. 

We immediately started cheering and clapping for her. 

She even got some extra time on the jumbotron as she stopped to hug three of her professors. 

The next 75 students were named and the ceremony was complete. 

You may be wondering what this has to do with John’s gospel, and I will share that. 

Many of you have either been a graduate at some point in your life or attended a graduation ceremony. 

It is a public ceremony that is shared with many strangers, but all with something in common. 

Of the 1000 plus graduates we were there to see everyone, but in reality cheer for only one, our daughter.

Some families are more comfortable with others in sharing public displays of affection in the form of yelling and screaming their excitement. 

While we were loud, we were definitely not the loudest. 

Yet it was within that excitement that the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts gave his words to the graduates and to the people in attendance. 

The Dean welcomed the new graduates as alumni and invited them back. 

For many new graduates they are on top of the world, only opportunity is on the horizon, as it should be, but the reality of leaving those Ivy walls and caring professor’s becomes reality. 

Questions, fears, and the thought of who is going to advocate for me, perhaps wondering am I all alone? 

Fortunately, even a large university cares for its students and offers support and guidance on their journey. 

What would it look like for a school to leave their students in the dark, alone? 

Jesus' Farewell discourse to his disciples has many similarities with a graduation ceremony and the graduates. 

Jesus speaks to his disciples with compassion, “Peace I leave you; my peace I give to you. I don’t give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” 

Peace is feeling that someone sees you. 

Peace is the unconditional love of shalom.

Peace is the gift of salvation of a God for us, that abides with us on our journey in life, now and forever. 

Jesus, like the Dean who spoke, encourages us to be who we are meant to be, while remembering where we came from and how we got there. 

Graduates, like the disciples, are just beginning to realize what it means to be without their University, to be out in the world. 

The University offers their support and career guidance, and they actually want you to go out and give it a try. 

They believe in the education and the relationships that you have made there. 

Jesus gives us even more, an advocate, a paraclete. 

Embrace the love of Jesus that says, “I am going away, and I am coming to you.” 

Jesus doesn’t leave us to face the world alone. 

We have an advocate, the Holy Spirit that is with us right here, for all who believe. 

Right here and right now. 

Look at all of the beautiful gifts we have here on the North Shore. 

Remembering all of those who have come before us and those who will be here long after we have gone. 

The Holy Spirit advocates for us and with us.

Perhaps the sight of a majestic eagle, the smell of pine, and the vibrant greens of the forest. 

The gentle tug of a walleye or the ferocious strike of a northern. 

The melodic sound of tumbling rocks on the shore to the crash of waves on ledgerock. 

We are blessed to live in such a special place and we are not alone. Jesus leaves us peace, peace to share and abide with one another in love. How many different ways can you think of to share your peace? 

A smile, opening a door, painting, creating, gardening, or maybe just sitting still. 

Share that peace, share your story and maybe even listen to a story someone has for you. 

Listen to the ending words of Psalm 67, “May God give us blessing, and may all the ends of the earth stand in awe.” 

To the graduates and to our God let us stand in awe. 

AMEN