Tuesday of Fifth Week of Easter

PEACE

READINGS

Gospel John 14:27-31a

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. You heard me tell you 'I am going away and I will come back to you.'If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me, but the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me."

REFLECTION

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you."

Do you want peace? What does peace mean to you?

When I think of peace, I think of harmony among people. No arguing. No fighting each other. No hatred. No killing or hurting others. No wars. No worries or fears.

There was peace in the Garden of Eden. Adam was given dominance over all of God's creation. Creatures did not struggle. They were all satisfied because they were living in God's Will. God provided for all their needs. Eden was a perfect place.

Everything changed when Adam and Eve disobeyed God. They used their own will and chose to eat the fruit that God forbade them to eat. They sinned. That was when Adam and Eve had to leave Eden. They were no longer able to live with God in paradise. We inherited Adam and Eve's exile and were left out to live our lives outside of Paradise.

What or Who is the peace that Jesus speaks about? Jesus is speaking to His disciples to prepare them for His Ascension into heaven. They will be alone. Jesus tells them that He will give them His peace and He will be with them.

We can find that peace when we are in Jesus's Presence in Adoration. He promised He would always be with us.

Let us pray St. Alphonsus' prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and be at peace with the Lord.