Gospel: John 14:27-31a
Peace be with you! My peace I give to you; 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. There is very little left for me to tell you, for the prince of this world is at hand, although there is nothing in me that he can claim. But see, the world must know that I love the Father, and that I do what the Father has taught me to do. Come now, let us go.

Reflections

“Peace be with you!”Peace is Christ’s gift to his dis- ciples. It is not solicited. It is freely given. The world has a different concept of peace. World’s peace is made possible through the destruction of the enemy. Jesus’ peace comes as a result of his victory over death. Soon the dis- ciples will realize what he means. It will not take long after the Last Supper and his crucifixion.The disciples must be happy when he is gone. They should not panic at his absence. He is coming back, to claim them back. Evil and dark forces can claim nothing in Jesus. The disciples must stay peaceful and calm.We may ask, what causes us to be panicky? Why don’t we have peace of mind? In the face of cri- sis and death, Christians should exude that peace which Jesus gives. It comes from the belief that Jesus will fulfill his promises that all will be alright. St. Paul in the first reading continues to do his mission in spite of being dragged away by his enemies. He stays fo- cused on strengthening the faith of his converts that through suf- ferings they will enter the king- dom of God.
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