Tuesday 12th
May 2020. Read Acts 14:19-28, Psalm 145 and John 14:27-31
_“Peace I
leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to
you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” *(John 14:27)*_
Going
through today’s readings, one would find it difficult to reconcile the promise
of peace that Jesus talks about in our Gospel passage with the painful experience of
Paul who was stoned and left for dead in our first reading. Since the early
days of Christianity, Christians have always faced hatred and persecution yet
Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you…”
What type
of peace is Jesus talking about when he categorically stated that those who follow
him must first deny themselves, carry their cross and come after him? Can we be
peaceful under the weight of the cross? Can we be at peace when we have to
suffer all kinds of humiliations, attacks, betrayal, back-stabbing even from
our fellow Christian brothers and sisters?
Dear
friends in Christ, if we interpret the peace of Christ with a worldly understanding
of peace, we run the risk of getting disappointed. No wonder Jesus added, “not
as the world gives do I give you.” The peace of Christ is not one that prevents
us from troubles, rather it is a peace that gives us the confidence to walk
through the “valley of the shadow of death fearing no evil.”
The peace
of Christ does not take away the pains, hurts and persecutions of others but it
enables us to forgive readily and completely like Jesus did on the Cross of
Calvary. It is this peace that made Paul decide to continue the mission for
which he was stoned, and left for dead.
The peace
Jesus gives us is not the peace of material comfort but a peace that makes us
happy even in our poverty. As Jesus would say: “Foxes have holes, birds of the
air have nests but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” (Luke 9:58.) In truth only
in God can we find rest for our troubled hearts.
Let us
pray: Lord Jesus, may your peace remain with us always. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith.
It is well with you. God bless you. (Tuesday of the 5th Week of
Easter. Bible Study: Acts 14:19-28, Psalm 145 and John 14:27-31).
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