God's peace

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you." Jn 14:27

All of us desire peace in our hearts, neighborhoods, countries and world. Unfortunately, we sometimes erroneously think that we can seize it, even violently, and this path to peace is especially present when we are under siege.

The people of Boston, full of fear after a terrorist bomb shattered a beautiful afternoon on Patriot's Day, one of their local holidays, will be tempted to believe they can enforce peace with more careful screening and a larger police presence, but they will be badly disappointed if they think peace is simply the absence of violence.

The first disciples of Jesus knew fear every time they preached the Gospel, but they armed themselves, not with knives and spears but the peace that Christ promised. Clothing themselves in the armor of God's love, they opened themselves to challenge and persecution and trusted that God's love would sustain them in all things. With God as their center they know nothing could undermine their peace.

Today, bring God's peace to someone seeking vengeance.

How do you understand the peace of Christ?