Reflection: John 14:27-31
When writing letters – emails – many of us have the habit of wishing peace as a salutation. Some use the term “Shalom” to greet people as they meet. The introductory rites of the liturgy always begin with the greeting: “Peace be with you”. This was the first message of the Risen Lord every time he appeared before his disciples. Today’s gospel begins with this same promise: “Peace I leave with you. My Peace I give to you.” The peace that Jesus promises is not only the absence of conflicts; rather, it is a blessing, a gift that contains every other gift that we need. If you have the peace of the Lord, you have every other gift! It is the gift of life, the Resurrection, the beginning of the new creation. The peace of Jesus is universal peace. It is found in fraternity and in the gentleness of the encounter with our brothers and sisters. The Peace of the Lord is an assurance: “If God is with us, who will be against us?” It is the peace that gives us hope; peace that accompanies us always. However, in this time of wars, pandemic, and unrest in society have caused restlessness and fear among the people. God seems to be silent; He does not respond as we would like him to. This silence frightens us, makes us doubt; and peace seems to be under siege. We are restless, nervous, worried… We would like quick and forceful answers. But, the Gospel is a reminder, reassuring us that God is present in the darkest moments of our lives; and that we must not lose faith. Our faith matures when we hold on to it even when the Lord remains invisible; Our faith is purified through the hardest and most difficult events. Jesus also said: “I am going away, but I will come back to you”. This is the promise of the Lord to accompany us. He does not leave us orphans. He will defend us from the Evil One, will comfort us in our struggles and difficulties. When confronted with the struggles of life, Jesus calls on us to greet and bless one another with ‘Peace’ and rely on the providential care of God. We read in the Book of Numbers: “Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to them, ‘The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace” (Numbers 6:22-26). This is a wonderful blessing, worth learning by heart, and using bravely on occasions instead of saying “Good luck!”.