Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter
It sometimes seems that one of the things most lacking from modern life is peace. I find that life can be very busy. I often find myself rushing from one thing to the next, without the ability to take everything in and to reflect on what I experience. At the same time, it is evident from the evening news that our world contains countless examples of conflict, war, turbulence, violence, and oppression. There are numerous ways that lack of peace breaks into our lives, including crime and interpersonal conflict.
It can seem as though there is no escaping this turmoil and that peace is impossible to achieve. However, the gospel reading for today holds out the promise of a peaceful existence. In the reading, Jesus tells his disciples that he is giving them the gift of peace. Jesus goes on to state that he does not give as the world gives (v. 27). I take this to mean that Jesus gives not expecting anything in return. His gift of peace is gratuitous. Despite the fact that Jesus promises his followers peace, he also warns them that life will not be a walk in the park. He tells his disciples that he must leave them behind. Consequently, they must learn to live without him. Jesus also speaks of the ‘ruler of this world’ coming. Yet he urges his disciples not to be afraid for him, for he is going ‘to the Father’ and he asserts that the ruler of the world has no power over him. What I take from this is that Jesus’ gift of himself is the very basis for the peace that he offers to his disciples, and Jesus is still there for us.
We encounter Jesus’ words of peace every Sunday during mass. Just after saying the Lord’s prayer, we hear the priest say, quoting Jesus, “Peace I leave you; my peace I give you” (John 14: 27). Here again is the gratuitous gift that Jesus gives without expecting anything in return. Yet we can do something in return – we can learn to live in peace with one another.
I am left wanting to hear more about the peace that Jesus is offering to his followers. In particular, I wonder what Jesus’ words have to say to us today. What does it mean to accept Jesus’ offer of peace. Are there ways that we can see greater peace in our lives? Can we think of ways to promote an end to conflict? Do we seek to realize peace in our homes, families, and workplaces; in our towns, cities, and countries; and in the wider world. Are there ways that we find ourselves contributing to an end to violence and conflict. Do we always look for ways to help others?
Today let us ask for God’s forgiveness for the times that we have not contributed to peace. Let us ask for God’s help in dealing with those ongoing situations in which people are in conflict with each other. Let us ask God to lead us in the path of peace in our busy lives. And finally, let us pray that, in the joys and the disappointments of life, we will find peace.
-Joel Schickel