Tuesday of Fifth Week of Easter

Scripture Readings 

It sometimes seems that one of the things most missing from modern life is peace.  I’m sure that each of us can name many examples of conflict, war, violence, and oppression in the world today.  We can also feel a lack of peace because of the hectic pace of modern life.  We can often find ourselves rushing from one thing to the next, without the ability to put things into perspective and to see everything that happens in the light of what is really important.

Although it can sometimes seem as though there is no escaping turmoil and that peace is impossible to achieve, the gospel reading for today holds out the promise of a peaceful existence in Christ Jesus.  In the passage, Jesus tells his disciples that he is giving them the gift of peace.  Jesus emphasizes that he does not give as the world gives (v. 27).  Jesus gives not expecting anything in return.  His gift of peace is gratuitous.  As Jesus’ disciples, we too can learn to be peaceful by learning to give as he gives.

Despite Jesus’ promise of peace, he also warns his disciples that their lives will not be easy.  He reminds them that he must leave them behind and that 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 he is going ‘to the Father’ and he asserts that the ruler of the world has no power over him.  Even though he is going away from his disciples, Jesus’ gift of himself will remain the very basis for the peace that he offers to them.  This is still true for use today – what Jesus has achieved remains with us and makes our lives of discipleship possible.

We encounter Jesus’ words of peace every Sunday during mass.  Just after we say the Our Father, the priest says, 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 find myself wanting to hear more about the peace that Jesus is offering to his disciples.  In particular, I wonder what it means to accept Jesus’ offer of peace.  Are there ways that I can find greater peace in my life?  Are there ways to promote an end to conflicts in our homes, families, and workplaces; in our towns, cities, and country; and in the whole world?  Are there additional ways that we can contribute to an end to violence and conflict?

Today let us ask for God’s help in dealing with those ongoing situations in which we may be in conflict with others, or where people are in long standing conflict with each other.  Let us ask God to lead us in the path of peace in our busy lives.  Finally, in the joys and the disappointments of life, may we find peace.

 Joel Schickel