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 Fatherand 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 not let your hearts be troubled or afraid."
PEACE! SHALOM!
What does peace mean to us today?
According to psychology, there are 4 types of peace. They are a peaceful home, a healthy study or work environment, walking the streets in safety, or finding peace with ourselves. This is the peace of this world.
Are we at peace in this world?
Families in today's homes are different. 50% of marriages end in divorce and sometimes a second divorce and even a third. (legaljobs.io) Children have to spend time with each parent in different households or they are used as pawns in a custody battle between their parents. Is this peaceful?
What about peace in our workplace or in schools? We hear about school lock-downs because of threats. We have even heard of disgruntled employees threatening their employer or fellow employees. There are precautions taken today to protect students and employees against violence.
Do people feel safe walking the streets? Feeling safe while walking on the street is a comfort of the past. Many complaints in cities are concerning neighborhoods being terrorized by gangs. This year there have been 74 children who have died from neighborhood violence. (npr.org)
What about finding peace in ourselves? The answer to this question can be found in the statistics on suicides. The World Health Organization recorded that almost 7,000,000 people attempt suicide every year. This year so far the number is out of every 1000 people, 72.2 die because of suicide. Peace in the present time is hard to find in this world. (https://aiesec.in.>4different-concepts-of-peace)
What does Jesus mean, "I give you peace..."?
Shalom is Hebrew and today it is used to express "peace," greet people, or say "farewell." Still, the word Shalom means more than peace. "Hebrew words convey feeling, intent, and emotion. It is a feeling of contentment, completeness, wholeness, well-being, and harmony.”
In the Old Testament God told Aaron to bless the Israelites with peace as they go to fight for the promised land. Aaron blesses the Israelites with these words: "The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His face upon you and give you SHALOM. In the name of Yeshua haMashiyach SAR SHALOM - the Prince of Peace.” Peace, Shalom, is a blessing. (https://rcoa.ca>shalom-the-peace-that-passes-understanding)
That statement or action seems contradictory. How can you have peace when you are going into battle? What does God mean?
God meant a different peace. Jesus talks about the same peace before His death and after His resurrection. The peace Jesus wants to give His disciples and us is inner peace which is a blessing. His peace will be in us as He will dwell in us. This gift of peace is a feeling of confidence and no fear or anxiety about suffering or trials. He assures us that He will always be with us and because we trust in Jesus we will have peace.
How will Jesus dwell in us? When we receive Him worthily in the Holy Eucharist.
Let us pray for all priests to bring us peace through the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Please, join us in praying our PAPA Prayer for Priests.
Shalom, my friends, may the peace of Christ be in you. God bless you all.
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