RBWords

     The first few words of this quote from today's portion of the "Farewell Address" are enshrined in the eucharistic liturgy, after the "Our Father."  They precede the exchange of a "sign of peace."  The amount of feeling that can be generated by a mere discussion of this liturgical moment, let alone by its occurrence, need not detain us today!  Suffice it to say that the kind of peace of which Jesus is speaking here and the context that shapes its meaning is not the one that most of us experience at Mass.

     Again, the context is important.  Jesus is still speaking to the disciples (and eventually to us as disciples) about his imminent departure.  He wants to give reassurance.  The peace that he speaks of here has nothing to do with absence of conflict or tension (although this could be a consequence) but rather the peace that comes from faith in him and in his mission.  Perhaps our modern age might call this a "quiet confidence."  I think most of us know the "peace" that comes from knowing in a given circumstance that "I can handle this!"  Indeed, if this feeling becomes collective enough, a group faith emerges that brings about a collective peace.  Jesus tells the disciples (and us) that with faith in him and with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, we need not be afraid of what is ahead of us.  It is like the "security" that we experience in knowing that we are loved.  By the time this gospel was put into writing, the community had already experienced persecution and there would be more to come.  

     A reading of memoirs of famous "holy people" will reveal that the relationship Jesus speaks of is not easy to maintain in the face of both internal and external trials.  I am inclined to think of the famous incident in the Gospel of Matthew when Peter gets out of the boat and walks on water.  As long as he stays focused on Jesus as the one toward whom he is walking, he does OK.  But when he starts worrying about the weather and rough water, he starts to sink!  Even then the Lord takes him by the hand.  It is this kind of peace that Jesus offers.  The challenge is whether or not we can accept that offer!   AMEN