Friends,
in today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us an antidote for fear. Whom or what
are you afraid of? That is a very important spiritual question. One way
to understand our lives is to look at those things that we seek: wealth,
power, privilege, honor, pleasure, friendship. But another way is to
turn that question around and determine what or who it is that we fear.
We
might fear the loss of material things, the loss of a job, the loss of
physical health, the loss of the esteem of others, the loss of personal
intimacy, or ultimately, the loss of life itself. We are afraid of many
things, but I’d be willing to bet that there is a primary or principal
fear. What is it for you?
Now, after identifying that, listen to Jesus: "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."
Any and all of the things that we customarily fear—loss of money, fame,
pleasure, and power—have to do with this world. What Jesus is saying is
that we should not let those fears come to dominate or define our
lives, for he is with us—and with him is his peace.
Jesus said to his disciples: "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. You heard me tell you, 'I am going away and I will come back to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me, but the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me."
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