May 22, 2022
6th Sunday of Easter (Year C)
Acts 15:1-2.22-29 / Rev 21:10-14.22-23 / Jn 14:23-29
PEACE OF CHRIST
Word: Once again we return to the words Jesus spoke at the Last Supper. This is part of the “Farewell Discourse”. His words are particularly appropriate now, and are imbued with greater meaning, because we read them in the light of all we have celebrated since Holy Thursday. Jesus looks ahead to his suffering and death, beyond it to his resurrection, and further still to the coming of the Holy Spirit, who guarantees that his words will remain and bear fruit. This also prepares us for the celebration of his Ascension next Sunday.
Among the truth that Jesus speaks about is peace. “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you; not as the world gives do I give to you” (Jn 14:27). The peace that Jesus leaves with his apostles and with us is not the peace that the world gives – a distinction that sometimes eludes us. What is the difference? First of all, we know that peace is much more than the absence of war or controversy; the peace that Jesus gives is far more profound and fundamental than that. According to William Barclay, “The peace which the world offers us is the peace of escape, the peace which comes from the avoidance of trouble and from refusing to face things. The peace which Christ offers us is the peace of conquest. No experience of life can ever take it from us and no sorrow, no danger, no suffering can ever make it less. It is independent of outward circumstances.” Second, when our faith truly believes that ultimate victory over suffering and injustice is inevitable, then we can be full of peace in a way that a purely worldly view of suffering cannot know. This is a peace that enables us to live optimistically, to withstand the blows life bring, to be courageous in the face of fear and sorrow and to live our lives with the healthiest possible form of detachment.
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Order: Earthly peace is the image and fruit of the peace of Christ, the messianic “Prince of Peace” (Is 9:5). By the blood of his Cross, “in his own person he killed the hostility” (Eph 2:16), he reconciled men with God and made his Church the sacrament of the unity of the human race and of its union with God. “He is our peace” (Eph 2:14). He has declared: “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Mt 5:9). (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2305).
Why do we sometimes see people in such a bad light? Fr. Flor McCarthy, SDB gives an answer: “Because we are ill at ease with ourselves. A man who is not at peace with himself spreads a contagion of conflict around him.”
Is it possible to, first of all, cultivate peace with ourselves and our own situations? Only then can we have a right relationship with other people and with God.
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Realities: Dalawa na lang semana! Surely, some losing candidates and supporters have an awful lot of anger inside them. As in the past, they will assert, the election has became a misery for them. There were various irregularities committed by their winning opponents, they will claim. Hence, they lost. For a long time, they cannot yet concede. Some are even scheming certain game plans to possibly reverse the election’s outcome in their favor.
If their assertions can be established, by all means they must put a good fight until the inaccuracy is suitably corrected within the limits of applicable laws. Until justice is served where real injustice had been perpetrated can true peace reign.
However, if the accusations are baseless, and are motivated by personal ambitions rather than the common good; then their cry of protest, no matter how loud, should be consigned as undeserving. Often they stumble along, blindly unaware that the reasons of their dissatisfaction lie inside themselves. Meanwhile, they enjoy very little peace of mind or serenity of soul.
But then there are also candidates and supporters who, in spite of possible impending defeat, have mustered enough courage to accept the electorate’s verdict with dignified pride. As they start to acknowledge the inevitable fact that there must be losers at the final inning of any political exercise, they begin to have inner peace. This inner peace makes a big difference to their lives.
o0oDirection:Katilingbanong Pag-ampo alang sa mga bag-ong namong napiling pamunuan nga nagmadaugon sa Piliav 2022: Ginoong Dios, ipadangat ang imong panalangin alang sa mga bag-ong napiliNg punuan nga hapit na magsugod sa ilang mga tahas ug kaahuhan. Hinaut nga mamahimo kadtong ilang kadaugan sa miaging pimiliay mahimong kining sinugdan sa among pagbangon gikan sa kalisdanan.Giyahe ang ilang mga hunahuna aron sila mahimong angayan nga mamunoan sa among katilingban: mga pangulo nga MAKILUNGSUDNON, maglantaw gayod sa kaayohan sa lungsod ug dili sa kaugalingon lamang; mga pangulo nga MAALAMONG modumala aron mahan-ay ang pagpadagan sa among pangagamhanan; mga pangulo nga KUGIHAN nga motuman sa mga kaakohan nga ila unya nga panumpaan; mga pangulo nga MALIGDONG, kadtong dili mahaylo sa bahandi ug maisog nga makigbugno sa mga kahiwian; ug tabaw sa tanan, sila mga pangulo nga MAHIGUGMAON SA DIOS ug kanunay nga magasunod sa Iyang kabubut-on. Agaka usab kami, sa tanang takna, sa hustong PAGTAMBAYAYONG sa mga mamunoan niini’ng among lungsod, aron makab-ot ang kahiusahan ug kauswagan sa nasud nga Pilipinhon. Kini among gipangayo sa ngalan sa imong Anak nga si Jesukristo. Amen.