Jesus said to his disciples: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid" (John 14:27).
Lord Jesus Christ, forgive us for taking the gift of peace so lightly, turning it into a cliche and worse, making it a joke; yet, it is always the one gift we all desire and wish for but so afraid of truly having it because it demands great things from us like faith in you so that we can follow you carrying our cross, bearing all pains and willing to sacrifice to achieve real peace.
They (Paul and Barnabas) strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”
Acts 14:22
Your peace, dear Jesus, is so different from the "peace" the world gives or knows about which is a peace that is centered on man than on God our Father; your peace, Lord Jesus, demands that we make the world know that we love the Father like you (cf. Jn.14:31) because it is a peace borne out of justice and love, virtues that call us to forget ourselves and think more of others. Amen.
