Peace I give to you, my own peace I give you

I often find myself following the latest news hoping for some sign of peace in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan. So Jesus’ words in this week’s Gospel John 14: 23-29 ‘Peace I give you, my own peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give’ caused me to reflect deeply. How is Jesus’ peace different from the world’s?

I believe Jesus’ peace comes from within, rooted in the presence of the Holy Spirit and the intimate relationship with God. It is internal. It is a contentment with life. It is not affected by difficult situations.

I remember Sandee and I giving this old pleasant nun a lift back from a church function to her religious house. Her demeanor, her smile, her calm spoke of a deep inner peace.

We had not eaten lunch so we invited her to a TGI Friday burger. When her’s arrived, the first thing she did was take the knife and cut it in half. Confused, we asked why. She said ‘that is for the sisters, they would have enjoyed being here.’ Her first thought was not of herself but for others. I believe she possessed Jesus’ peace.

Worldly Peace depends on external conditions—political treaties, ceasefires, negotiations, meeting mutual interests. It is fragile and temporary. It can quickly be broken by conflict, fear, or changing circumstances. It often tolerates injustice, sin, or disconnection from deeper truth, for the sake of comfort or control.

I imagine the nun had attained Jesus’ peace through years of silent prayer, humble service, and faithful surrender to God’s will. Her life would not have been free from suffering—she must have known loneliness, illness, and heartbreak —but through it all, she must have remained anchored in the presence of Christ.

Day by day, as she rose before dawn to sit in the stillness of the chapel, or quietly tended to the needs of the sick and forgotten, her heart would have been slowly shaped by grace. The world around her might have seen her life as obscure or uneventful, but within her, there was growing a profound calm, a steady light.

Her’s was not the peace of avoidance or denial, but the deep assurance that comes from trusting entirely in God’s love—a peace that allowed her to smile gently in sorrow, to forgive freely, and to live without fear.

I believe we all seek this peace - Jesus’ peace. And it is attainable when we live our life trusting in Jesus.