Give Peace a Chance - 6th Sunday of Easter Year C

Everyone longs for peace, but very few people know how to acquire it. What is worse, hardly anyone knows in what authentic peace consists. Peace is not merely the absence of war or a calm heart or soul. Consider, however, the definition of peace from an early Church father: "Peace, indeed, is serenity of mind, tranquility of soul, simplicity of heart, the bond of love, the fellowship of charity. It removes hatred, settles wars, restrains wrath, tramples on pride, loves the humble, pacifies the discordant and makes enemies agree. For it is pleasing to everyone. It does not seek what belongs to another or consider anything as its own. It teaches people to love because it does not know how to get angry, or to extol itself or become inflamed with pride. It is meek and humble to everyone, possessing rest and tranquility within itself." (Caesarius of Arles, Sermon 174.1) The readings for this Sunday all relate to the theme of peace in one way or another.

The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles shows the early Church embroiled in its first great controversy: should Gentile converts to Christianity be required to adhere to the Mosaic Law as Jewish Christians practice? In our own times we might find this question silly, but recall that prior to the coming of Christ converts to Judaism from paganism were required to adhere to the entire Mosaic Law. Jewish Christians still felt bound to adhere to the law while also fulfilling the duties of Christian faith. As a result Gentiles did not often convert to Judaism, nor would they be willing to join the Christian church if it meant adherence to the old law. In response, the apostles met to settle the matter and establish peace in the Church, invoking the Holy Spirit - the guarantee of peace - in deliberating and making the necessary decision.

The apostles give us an example to follow in establishing peace on earth among people. Pope Paul VI reflected on this process thus: "True peace must be founded upon justice, upon a sense of the untouchable dignity of man, upon the recognition of an indelible and happy equality between men, upon the basic principle of human brotherhood, that is, of the respect and true love due to each man, because he is man. Every human being has inalienable rights that must be respected. Each human community - ethnic, historical, cultural, or religious - has rights which must be respected. Peace is threatened every time one of these rights is violated. The moral law, guardian of human rights, protector of the dignity of man, cannot be set aside by any person or group, or by the State itself, for any cause, not even for security or in the interests of law and order. The law of God stands in judgment over all reasons of State. As long as injustices exist in any of the areas that touch upon the dignity of the human person...true peace will not exist. Peace cannot be established by violence, peace can never flourish in a climate of terror, intimidation and death." (Pope Paul VI Message for World Day of Peace, 1971)

In promising peace to his disciples, Jesus connects that peace to love for him that should lead to rejoicing in our hearts. This peace and love cannot be removed by trials and tribulations, persecutions or torments. The example of Christ on the cross six weeks ago proves that point and establishes for us the path to follow so that we can enjoy the fullness of peace in the heavenly Jerusalem that John describes for us today in the book of Revelation. On earth and in heaven we have no other need for our souls than the Lamb of God who provides for us light in the midst of darkness.

Saint Augustine echoes the sentiment of peace on earth and heaven in this prayer that shall close our reflection for today: "Even now you are in us, O Lord, and we are in you, but now we believe it, then we shall have full knowledge of it. Indeed as long as we are in the body as it is now, corruptible and weighing down the soul, we are exiles far from you; we walk in faith and not in vision...You, O Lord, tell us openly that we are in you even now when we shall live that life in which death will have been swallowed up, we shall know that you are in the Father, and we in you, and you in us, because then, all that through your work is already begun will arrive at perfection: your home in us and ours in you. O Lord, at the moment you depart from us you leave us peace; you will give us your peace when you return at the end of time. You leave us peace in the world, you will give us your peace in the life to come. You leave us your peace so that, by remaining in it, we may conquer our enemy; you will give us your peace when we shall reign without fear of our enemies. You leave us peace so that, even here, we may love each other, you will give us your peace in heaven, where there can be no more strife." (St. Augustine, In Johannes 75: 4; 77: 3)