In John’s Gospel just before his passion, death, and resurrection, Jesus prepares his apostles for his imminent physical separation from them with prayer, peace, and a sign of sacrificing service. Today we hear his words about peace. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you”, he tells them. He leaves them not just peace, but his peace. That peace that comes from his relationship with God the Father – constant, steady, always present.
Then he is quick to say, “Not as the world gives do I give it to you”. The peace of our world is usually associated with conditions, violence, and fear. You treat me well and I will treat you well. I will stop the war if you concede to my demands. This is what we do with our interpersonal relationships and our relationships with other countries. Basically, we believe and live as if the other were a thing that we can use for our own benefit.
We always want to negotiate a peace that benefits our own interests. We want to dominate in our relationships with other people and with other countries. We maintain peace out of fear of violence and war. Our way to peace is through fear and threats. The lack of peace is not just war. It is a splintered self, separated from God that is centered on us, our own ego, our own perceived needs that pushes us to dominate and oppress others.
Jesus’ peace comes from his experience of being in communion with God the Father’s constant love. A true Christian lives within the love of the Trinity. That is communion. We were created in that image and find our true life and peace living in communion with that peace and love. That is a true adult, mature Christian love in the sense of sacrificing service. That is what produces peace. That is why in John’s Gospel the Last Supper centers on prayer for communion, peace and sacrificing service.
The cares, troubles, and fears of our daily lives that tend to dominate us and push us towards violence and self-centeredness become unimportant when we reorder our lives towards a true communion with God. The washing of the feet and the Cross are signs of a life centered in service to the other. That is the way to resurrection and true peace.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you…
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid