May 20, 2014 Tuesday,
5th Week of Easter
1st Reading: Acts 14:19–28 Gospel: Jn14:27–31
Jesus said to his disciples, “Peace be with you; I give you my peace. Not as the world gives peace do I give it to you. Do not be troubled; do not be afraid. You heard me say: ‘I am going away, but I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. “I have told you this now before it takes place, so that when it does happen you may believe…”
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
A joke is told of Adam, who after a big fight with Eve in paradise, prayed in this fashion: “Lord, make me another woman; I still have several ribs, look!” Like Adam many spouses think that getting rid of their partner is the way to peace. More often than not, it is actually getting into the backdoor of the same trouble, if not more trouble.
The real path to peace is what Jesus promised when he said: “I give you my peace. Not as the world gives peace do I give it to you.”
“Peace has been understood in different ways though the years and even Scriptures do not have a specific treatise on peace”, said an entry on peace in the New Dictionary of Theology (Komonchak, et al, eds.). Two ideas, however, predominate in Scriptures. The first is peace brought about by right relationship with God. This entails forgiveness, reconciliation and unity. The second is “eschatological peace” – a final, full realization of God’s salvation when all creation will be made whole. This is what we wish of a dead person when we say “rest in peace”.
In the Old Testament, peace was seen from the perspective of relationship with God. Maintaining harmony in the community and restoring right order among peoples within creation were necessary elements to maintain that relationship. In the Old Testament context, therefore, peace is built upon justice and fidelity to God’s law (Jeremiah 6:14; 8:10-12; Is. 28:18; Ezek 13:16). The formula under this perspective was obey God and be at peace.
In the New Testament, Peace was seen as that gift brought to the world by the shedding of Christ’s Blood. Christ calls everyone to conversion so that everyone becomes bearers of peace through forgiveness and reconciliation (2 Cor 5:19-20). Under this perspective, God’s peace becomes visible through peoples’ lives when characterized by love and the willingness to forgive. This entails change of heart.
Let us heed the invitation of today’s Gospel to become bearers of peace – not the peace brought about by getting rid of the people we dislike but the peace of Christ which entails a change of heart. – Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM. Email: [email protected]. Website: www.frdan.org.
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