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Jesus’ Transforming Peace
Jesus said to his disciples: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I
give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let
your hearts be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27
There are two types of peace we can enjoy. First, there is worldly
peace. This peace is the absence of conflict, war, or external
turmoil. Civil governments must work to ensure this peace by
protecting their societies from outside aggressors, maintaining
order within their communities, and assisting with basic human
needs, such as economic development, healthcare, and justice. This
form of peace aligns with human reason and is based in the natural
law, which is written on the consciences of every person.
Though that form of natural peace and justice is good, it is not
the highest form of peace we are called to enjoy. The peace that
our Lord came to bestow is supernatural, enabling us not only to
survive, but to thrive on a moral and spiritual level, even in the
absence of worldly peace. Jesus’ spiritual gift of peace enables us
to find fulfillment in the midst of every external
difficulty.
If we seek only worldly peace, then any difficulty or disorder will
trouble and unsettle our hearts. For that reason, Jesus said, “Do
not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” Wars, oppression,
crime, poverty, and disease have plagued humanity from the
beginning and will persist, in varying degrees, until the end of
time. Only when Jesus returns to establish His visible Kingdom as
the Universal King will external peace be fully and permanently
established. What a glorious day that will be!
For now, until the Second Coming, we must learn not only to survive
but to thrive within the world. Given the inevitable challenges
every human life will encounter, if we want to live in true peace
then we must seek out the peace that our Lord promises in today’s
Gospel. This Gospel comes from Jesus’ Last Supper Discourse with
His Apostles. As that discourse concludes two chapters later, Jesus
prays His High Priestly prayer to the Father: “I do not ask that
you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil
one” (John 17:15). We must live within this fallen world for now,
but we do not have to suffer interior afflictions.
The evil one has great influence in this world, yet our Lord
promises that if we receive His peace, we will be kept safe from
the devil’s attacks. Though we might suffer some form of external
oppression, internally we will be at peace, no matter what we
face.
The gift of peace that Jesus promises confounds the powers of
darkness and is freely given to all who turn to Him and submit to
His spiritual governance. The martyrs are the prime example of this
interior peace in the midst of exterior persecution. They imitate
our Lord, Who permitted the evil one to afflict Him with earthly
suffering and death. Jesus confronted that evil with perfect
confidence and peace, overcoming it through divine love that won
the final victory. In the Eucharist, He continues to share His
peace with us, strengthening our hearts against every trial.
Reflect today on Jesus’ words to His disciples at the Last Supper.
At that time, they did not realize they were about to witness
Jesus’ Passion. Nor did they realize that, in the years to come,
they would endure many hardships in their faithful service to God’s
will. Similarly, if we listen to Jesus’ discourse and heed His
words, we must embrace them as the Apostles eventually did, once
they received the Holy Spirit. We must rely on grace to find
courage in the face of life’s afflictions—poverty, illness, loss,
persecution, and temptation. As you ponder yourself being with the
Apostles during this discourse on Holy Thursday, resolve to accept
Jesus’ promise so that you are spiritually prepared to live in
interior peace, no matter the exterior circumstances you might
face.
Lord of true peace, there are many things in this world that
seek to steal my peace. Please give me the confidence I need to
always turn to You, no matter what affliction comes my way, so that
I will remain in You as You remain in me, enabling me to receive
Your all-consuming gift of peace. Jesus, I trust in You.
Image: Stained glass showing Jesus blessing a man
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