As he stood on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica while we waited to hear what his first words to us would be, our new Pope Leo chose to deliver the message that our Lord uttered so often to his followers: “Peace I leave with you.” It is the same message we hear in our gospel today when Jesus was speaking these words to his apostles at the Last Supper right after he washed their feet. He knew the anguish they would all soon face after his passion and death, and then again when they would begin their missionary work after Pentecost. Our compassionate Jesus, therefore, wants to comfort his disciples while he is in their midst. He reminded them not to let their hearts be troubled or afraid, a message that appears over 100 times in the Old Testament and 44 times in the New Testament.
Knowing that his time was short with them and his death was imminent, Jesus wants them to know that he is giving them his peace and leaving this precious gift in their hearts. He wants them to share it with others. This is His Father’s peace, a peace that stems from our relationship with God, and is life-giving, full, and purposeful.
This peace Jesus offers to us, too. It is the peace of victory, meaning no experience of our life can ever take Christ’s peace from us and no sorrow, no danger, no suffering can ever make it less. It is peace that is independent of all our outward circumstances, a peace that can only come from God.
To share in this peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no conflicts, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm and tranquil in your heart. It is not cheap peace which we can buy at any sale price; it is a gift of the heart we yearn for, pray for, and are willing to share at any cost. That is the real meaning of the peace of Christ.
Whatever might be troubling any of our hearts today, may we take that concern to Jesus knowing he wants to embrace and comfort us with his peace. May the peace of this Easter season be with all of us, and especially with those who yearn for true peace this day.
