[ Today's Readings ]
As you enter a house, wish it peace.
If the house is worthy,
let your peace come upon it;
if not, let your peace return to you.
Here is a hallmark of Christianity that most of us do not experience. We do not lose Christian peace by spreading it. Even if we try to spread it someplace where it is not welcome it simply returns to us. So why is it then that when we try to share our Christian peace with others and they don't welcome it that our hearts are shattered and we can't stop thinking about it for days?
These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world (see John 16:33).
Which things does Jesus speak to give us peace?
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid (see John 14:27).
We receive peace from Jesus. It does not come from the world. The world, in fact, cannot give it. Only Jesus can. And the way he gives it is the context for the verse above. This is part of the promise of the Holy Spirit. It is the peace that comes from knowing the love God has for us at the core of our beings because that very love is a person who lives in the core of our beings. This is what it truly means that he does not leave us orphans.
It is a difficult but wonderful test of the source of our peace when we try to spread that peace to others. We ought not feel bad when we try to share our own peace, fail, and our consumed with anxiety. Instead we should learn. We should hear and be open to the invitation to receive the peace which only Jesus can give more and more.
We need peace like this to share the kingdom. We need it. It isn't a nice-to-have. Without it the kingdom will not spread as far and wide as God desires. The reason is that we do encounter resistance which will make our worldly peace evaporate like a drop of dew in the hottest desert. Only with God's peace can we have a heart like God who loves us even when we try to hide from his love. Only then can we love even our enemies.
My heart is overwhelmed,
my pity is stirred.
I will not give vent to my blazing anger,
I will not destroy Ephraim again;
For I am God and not man,
the Holy One present among you;
I will not let the flames consume you.
The world needs us to love in this way. There are too many people possessed by the demons, too many lepers, and all of the modern equivalents. There are too many sick. There are too many dead and dying because of sin. We can't let our lack of comfort prevent the spread of the Kingdom of heaven. We especially can't allow this when all we need to do is say yes.
Once again, O LORD of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see:
Take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has planted,
the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
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