In today’s gospel Jesus says, “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” (Jn 14:27).
That can sound like a tall order. Daily we hear about conflicts and suffering both locally and around the world. It’s not only external; even in our homes and relationships there are often situations that provoke anxiety.
The world says that peace is the absence of conflict. If that were true, we would never be able to have peace on this side of Heaven. But Jesus offers a different kind of peace. His peace is found not in the absence of conflict but in the presence of his all-powerful love.
Sometimes he uses his power to immediately remove our suffering, and sometimes we find that he does something else: he offers us the triumph of the cross. Just as Jesus conquered death through his crucifixion and rose to new life, so too does he offer new life to us – members of his body – through our crosses.
Jesus did not carry his cross alone, and he does not ask us to either. He is Emmanuel, with us always. He gives us the Holy Spirit to strengthen us, guide us, advocate for us, and comfort us. Jesus and the Holy Spirit lead us to our Everlasting Father, who clothes even the lilies of the fields.
In the sovereign care of the Triune God, who is the same yesterday, today, and always, we can find peace. He imparts it as a gift of the Holy Spirit. When we choose to believe that he will triumph through the crosses in our lives, our anxiety melts away. We can rest in his love.
St. Paul encourages us, “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:6-7).
Peace can be conveyed in a special way through music. Below are four songs that bring peace in the midst of struggles. The first song, “Blessings,” was written by Laura Story when her husband was battling cancer. She put into music what was on her heart.
May God’s peace be with you.
