A Peace the World Cannot Give

Listening to the Spirit

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. And kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you will renew the face of the earth.

Lord, by the light of the Holy Spirit you have taught the hearts of your faithful. In the same Spirit help us to relish what is right and always rejoice in your consolation.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Listening to the Word

John 14:23-29

Jesus said to his disciples: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me. “I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you. 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.”

Reflection

Have you ever experienced a moment when everything felt overwhelming, yet somehow, a deep calm remained in your heart? In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks to His disciples with gentle reassurance. He says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you” (John 14:27). He knows that difficult days are coming. Still, He offers something that no one else can give—His own peace.

This peace is not just about the absence of trouble. It is the kind of peace that stays with us even in the midst of pain, confusion, or loss. It is rooted in a relationship with Christ, in knowing that we are loved and never alone. Jesus invites us to live in that peace, not just to admire it from a distance.

As a priest, I have had the privilege of accompanying people during their most vulnerable moments. Many times, while giving the Anointing of the Sick to those who are terminally ill, I have witnessed something extraordinary. In the middle of intense suffering, some of them radiate a deep, quiet peace. They are often in physical pain, sometimes unable to speak, but their presence speaks louder. Their peace does not come from perfect health or the absence of fear. It comes from Christ living in them.

Earlier in this Gospel passage, Jesus says, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him” (John 14:23). This means God chooses to be close to us, to remain with us, especially when we love Him and follow His word. His presence is the source of peace.

Jesus also says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27). He does not say this to shame us when we struggle. He says it to comfort us. He knows our worries and wants to carry them with us. He gives us the Holy Spirit to help us remember His words and to remain steady when life is uncertain.

Let us take time to reflect on Jesus’ gift of peace. In quiet prayer, in front of the Blessed Sacrament, or even during a busy day, we can pause and say, “Jesus, I receive your peace.” And in that moment of trust, we may find exactly what our hearts have been looking for.