With Opened Bible

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.”

The Gospel of this Easter Sunday prepares us to welcome the Spirit of Pentecost. Jesus promised his disciples another Advocate who could lead them and remind them of all truth. This promise, along with the promise of peace, offers us a comforting reassurance. But the question remains: what peace is Jesus talking about?

There seems to be controversy in the Master's statements. He once said: "Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword." (Mathew 10:34) The word "sword" can mean either "the word of God" or "war and suffering." In this context, Jesus was referring to war. But what war? Those who will rise up against Christans because of the truth. The truth of the Gospel will divide father and mother, parents and children. (Cf. Mathew 10:35-36) If this is the situation, how can we understand the gif of peace promised by Jesus?

The prophet Isaiah declared seven hundred years before his birth: "For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. His dominion is vast and forever peaceful." (Isaiah 9:5-6) Jesus is the Prince of Peace, that is, the one who has the power to bring peace to all things. Indeed, the apostle to the Gentles, Saint Paul, declares: "Jesus is our peace" (Ephesians 2:14).

Now, we can understand the meaning of this peace that Jesus wishes to offer us. It is, of course, the Spirit who dwells in the depths of our hearts, transforming us and our understanding of peace. Moreover, he says it clearly: "Not as the world gives, do I give it to you." (John 14:27) What peace does the world offer? The absence of noise despite inner conflicts. The absence of words despite wounds that are invisible to the naked eye. Such is the peace offered to us by worldly governments.

The Peace of Jesus is different. It dwells within us and makes us steadfast in the face of the changes of this tme. True peace is the Spirit who makes us his home, a peace that endures. And when we have this inner peace, nothing can disturb us. King David experienced it during his life when he sang: "Though a thousand fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, near you it shall not come." (Psalm 91:7). Even amid turmoil, the believer is at peace and fears nothing. Such is the peace given by the presence of the Spirit within us.