“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.”

Christ is risen! Alleluia!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Last week we discussed Jesus’ continuing revelation of the Father, His nature and character, and the interrelationship of the Father, Son, and Spirit.

In a few short weeks we will celebrate the mysteries Jesus is revealing to us as we encounter Trinity Sunday, Sunday in the Octave of Corpus Christi, and the Solemnity of God’s Word.

Today Jesus is discussing that fruit of the Father’s love which is peace. We who are the object of the Father’s love are given the gift of peace – a peace greater than the world can give.

Jesus’ offer of peace is given before His arrest, crucifixion, and death. Facing this, Jesus tells the Apostles to be untroubled and unafraid.

We know in retrospect that they did not immediately listen. Most ran away and hid behind locked doors in fear. Jesus literally had to break through those locked doors with His risen body to show them the truth of what He had said. Finally, with the gift of the Spirit they lived in His peace, unafraid.

The Apostles had something so powerful, so wonderful. They had an assurance of peace flowing from love. What is equally excellent is that we have the exact same thing.

In our Offertory/Secret Prayer we will hear: Grant that we may be ready to receive the peace and love of Your risen Son.

How important it is that we do, that we continually revive our trust in Jesus’ promise of peace and that we live unperturbed, unafraid, untroubled lives.

It is incumbent on us to live in trust.

Brothers and sisters, it is evident. Look at our parish, its situation fourteen years ago. We together decided to trust in God and move forward without the worrying and handwringing that destroys many communities. I could point out many parishes that do the same and those that unfortunately are hiding behind closed doors in trepidation and fear.

To trust and have peace is Jesus’ command and our choice. Let us live that way as we do His work.