John 14:27-31
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart!
And the peace I give isn’t fragile like the peace the world gives. So don’t be
troubled or afraid. Remember what I told you—I am going away, but I will come
back to you again. If you really love me, you will be very happy for me, for
now I can go to the Father, who is greater than I am. I have told you these
things before they happen so that when they do, you will believe in me. I don’t
have much more time to talk to you, for the evil prince of this world
approaches. He has no power over me, but I will freely do what the Father
requires of me so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s
be going."
Food for thought! - Christ's Peace!
After promising us the Holy Spirit, whom he referred to
as the «Comforter» that will teach us much, as well as remind us of everything
Jesus told us, Jesus gives us another gift, Peace; his Peace! His is a
"Peace of mind and heart" that isn’t fragile like the peace the world
gives. For that reason, there's no need to be troubled or afraid.
The reason we are not supposed to be troubled nor afraid
is that we are not left alone; Jesus leaves us with an advocate, a
comforter, that is, a pleader, an
attorney, a lawyer who defends our cause. As St. Paul puts it, «We are hard pressed
on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but
not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.» (2 Cor 4:8-9)
In the Bible «peace» never means the absence of trouble.
Indeed, peace by nature pressuposes trouble; we cannot talk of peace without
implying trouble, just as we cannot talk of day without implying night.
Something demonstrative of peace happened during Jesus' passion; he was at
peace throughout: «He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his
mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its
shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.»
Amidst false accusations and cries of «crucify him»,
Jesus remained peaceful in silence to the amazement of Pilate, who remarked:
«Do you refuse to speak to me? Don’t you realize I have power either to free
you or to crucify you?»
When he carried the cross, when he lay down on the cross,
and when he was nailed through his hands and feet, Jesus maintained his peace.
THIS IS THE PEACE OF CHRIST, «which surpasses all understanding» (Phil. 4:7).
The peace which Jesus offers us is the peace of conquest after challenges, is
the peace that endures all kind of challenge. No experience of life can ever
take it from us and no sorrow, no danger, no suffering, no problem can ever
make it less. It is independent of outward circumstances.
In today's first reading there is another example of
peace despite trouble (Act 14:19-22)
«Some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and turned
the crowds into a murderous mob that stoned Paul and dragged him out of the
city, apparently dead. But as the believers stood around him, he got up and
went back into the city! The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe. After
preaching the Good News there and making many disciples, they returned again to
Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, where they helped the believers to grow in love
for God and each other. They encouraged them to continue in the faith in spite
of all the persecution, reminding them that they must enter into the Kingdom of
God through many tribulations.»
Paul was talking from experience. He had just been bitten
to die, but Paul didn't die; he instead rose up and went on doing what he had
to do. He even encouraged others saying through many hardships we must go
before we enter the kingdom of God. Like Jesus, Paul is saying in other words,
there's no crown without the cross; no victory without a fight; no day without
a night; no Easter Sunday without Good Friday. Before we succeed, we must
struggle.
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