Incomparable Peace

𝐌𝐀𝐘 𝟓, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: 𝐅𝐈𝐅𝐓𝐇 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊 𝐎𝐅 𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝟏: 𝐀𝐜 𝟏𝟒: 𝟏𝟗-𝟐𝟖

𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐦: 𝐏𝐬𝐚 𝟏𝟒𝟓: 𝟏𝟎-𝟏𝟑𝐚𝐛, 𝟐𝟏 “𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧, 𝐎 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦.”

𝐆𝐎𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐋: 𝐉𝐍 𝟏𝟒: 𝟐𝟕-𝟑𝟏

𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞: “𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐈 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮.” (𝐯.𝟐𝟕) 

            What is peace? The common understanding of peace is the state of tranquility, freedom from war or conflict, absence of violence and the relative presence of harmony and calm. In both cases, peace is the absence of exterior disruption or what we regard as peace in a physical sense. Peace is also referred to as the state of interior serenity or what we know as peace of mind.

            Now the question is who doesn’t want to have peace as we have defined it to be. Many will go to great lengths to find and enjoy a tranquil and peaceful life. But many times, too, our peace is disrupted by the relativism and materialism that affects not only our inner thoughts and decision-making processes but even our hearts.

            And in the world we now live in, peace is like a commodity that we seek endlessly and are willing to use all our resources just so we can find the interior serenity that separates us from the turmoil of our surroundings.

Today, there are at least two things that we can derive from this Gospel passage that we read in 𝐉𝐍 𝟏𝟒: 𝟐𝟕-𝟑𝟏. Here we see Jesus in what appears to be a continuation of his last-minute instructions to his disciples before he leaves and giving them the assurance there was nothing to fear.

            We also see what appears to be the premise to the roles the disciples will play when Jesus goes back to the Father and when they are finally commissioned to take over Jesus’ ministry (𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭 𝟐𝟖:𝟏𝟖-𝟐𝟎).

            But what I find to be the most striking of all that Jesus said was when he told his disciples he would leave with them the gift of peace for this is a kind of peace that was different from what the world gives and which would ultimately serve as a balm for their fear and troubled hearts.

Indeed, the kind of peace that Jesus gives is the peace of God that transcends all understanding that will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (𝐏𝐡𝐢 𝟒:𝟕).

            And for us to be able to fully understand this Gospel passage today we must go back to yesterday’s Gospel reading when Jesus said that the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in His Name will teach the disciples all things and will remind them of everything he said to them (𝐉𝐧 𝟏𝟒:𝟐𝟔).

            An understanding of what the Holy Spirit does is needed because the peace that Jesus gave to his disciples and which he is giving to us now can only find fruition when the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives.

            As we often regard peace as the absence of conflict, the peace that Jesus gives is the confident assurance that in any disconcerting situation or circumstances we may find ourselves in, we need not fear nor allow our hearts to be troubled because of the presence of the Holy Spirit who helps sustain the peace that comes from Christ – the kind of peace that transcends all boundaries of fear and anxiety.

            What we must also realize is that we – our bodies – have become the battlegrounds between the forces of good and evil. Sin, temptations, fear, uncertainty, anxiety, doubts, unbelief, indifference and, numerous other negative forces such as pride, envy, gluttony, sloth, lust, avarice and wrath are at war with the forces of good within us and this should explain why there are times when we find that our lives are not progressing the way it should or in the way that we planned it to be.

            It is because we are not aware of the peace of God that moves into our hearts which has the power to restrain these negative forces and provide us with comfort and peace in times of trouble and conflict.

But such peace is largely dependent on our acceptance of the gift. Just as he leaves us with his peace, such will be ineffective unless we receive it from him.

            In the Scriptures, the word used for peace is shalom which is not the absence of conflict but which when used as a greeting means everything that leads to the highest good of the person.

Contrast this with the kind of finite peace in the world today that offers us a way to escape rather than confront conflicts when it happens. What Jesus is offering is the kind of peace that can conquer all the trials and challenges that come.

            What we also see in today’s Gospel reading is the highest form of obedience that Jesus wants us to emulate. As Jesus fully submitted to the Will of God the Father as well as to the physical limitations of his being human (𝐉𝐧 𝟏𝟒:𝟐𝟔), he wants us to also yield to God’s Will because as God exalted Jesus as a result of his obedience (𝐏𝐡𝐢 𝟐:𝟗) then we too will appear with him in glory when Christ who is in us appears (𝐂𝐨𝐥 𝟑:𝟒).

            To remain in Him (𝐉𝐧 𝟏𝟓:𝟓) is necessary because this puts us in a position when nothing can ever take us away from the peace and joy of Jesus Christ in which no sorrow or grief, no danger, no suffering can ever make us doubt the peace that conquers the world.

            Towards the end of the Gospel reading, Jesus speaks of his destination and ultimate triumph over the powers of evil in the world. While the death of Jesus on the cross was viewed at that time it happened as a crushing defeat for Jesus and those who followed him, the Cross will eventually rise as a symbol of victory over the powers of death and sin.

            This prince of the world will always be around to try and influence our lives but Jesus assures us that this prince of darkness has no hold on Him (𝐯.𝟑𝟎) which means that those who will accept from Jesus his gift of peace and who has the Cross stamped in their hearts are assured of the peace and security in Christ Jesus.

            This simply means that for us to enjoy this peace and security amidst the troubles the world brings, we must align our goals and objectives in life with the plan of God for us and this should be anchored on listening and obeying the Word of God.

            How then would you know that you are at peace with yourself, with others and with God? Easy. You can safely say that peace is in you when you are confident and comfortable with your actions and when the words that come out of your mouths edify God and no one else.

But this is the hard part because humans tend to justify their actions as being godly to make a point. And some people think that going to church and going through all the practices of their faith give them the privilege to be called Christians and we see this in our everyday lives.

            Perhaps there is truth to the claim that of all the denominations that exist, the Catholics are the most difficult to unite and this is clearly evident in the current move of the Church for the lay faithful to come up with a united stand pertaining to the current political issues gripping the nation with regards to the rampant graft and corruption in government.

Several organizations have sprouted all claiming to be vested with holiness espousing the same goal but are struggling in the diversity on the means of how to deliver a message in the coming electoral exercise two years from now with some claiming ownership of the right to represent the church.

            How sad indeed especially if one will go through the spite and diatribes with which some of these groups have resorted to utterly forgetting the greater need to look beyond the elections which is to evangelize the perverted political order now currently prevailing.

            And when Jesus said: “𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐰; 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞.” (𝐯.𝟑𝟏), He was probably thinking that his disciples were pumped up to go and preach everything they learned from him. This, however, will only be realized when the Holy Spirit came and breathe on them and gave them the power to proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

            Like the disciples of Jesus who will later become Apostles, it is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that we can bring Christ to others. (𝘌𝘥 𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘺 - 𝘔𝘢𝘺 5, 2026)