Today’s Gospel reading continues this past Sunday’s Gospel. John 14 is Jesus’ Farewell Discourse. He tells his disciples that he is going away but that he will always be with them to guide them. The disciples have sorrow and perhaps even despair as they hear of Jesus’ departure so he begins and ends his discourse with a call to faith and trust as he offers them his gift of peace:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.” (14:1)
“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.” (14:27)
Jesus tells them not to be afraid and not to worry or despair: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” He offers them instead his gift of peace. True peace comes from putting our trust in God. True peace does not mean there we will never have any worry or distress in our life. True peace comes from knowing that God walks with us: “You are indeed Holy and to be glorified, O God, who love the human race and who always walks with us on the journey of life.” (Eucharistic Prayer for Various Needs IV). Jesus gives us his gift of peace: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you.” (John 14:24). We are invited to share this peace with one another at the Eucharist right after we hear this prayer taken from today’s Gospel.
“Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles: Peace I leave you, my peace I give you; look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will. Who live and reign for ever and ever.
Today let us receive this gift of peace from Jesus. Let us strive to place our faith and trust in Jesus and share this gift of peace with everyone that we meet. Jesus speaks to us personally today: “Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”
Image: “Jesus at the Last Supper (JP Davis)” by elisabeth_callahan is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.