John 14:27-31a

Acts 14:19-28

Psalm 145:10-11, 12-13ab, 21

John 14:27-31a

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.

Not as the world gives do I give it to you.

Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

You heard me tell you,

‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’

If you loved me,

you would rejoice that I am going to the Father;

for the Father is greater than I.

And now I have told you this before it happens,

so that when it happens you may believe.

I will no longer speak much with you,

for the ruler of the world is coming.

He has no power over me,

but the world must know that I love the Father

and that I do just as the Father has commanded me.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, your Son accomplished your will on earth out of love and bestowed the gift of peace on his disciples. Help me to fulfill your will and heed your commands today. I want to overcome the temptation to evil in my life and I need your grace to do so. I love you and will be faithful to your holy will.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The New Covenant Fruit of Peace: During the Last Supper, Jesus speaks about one of the fruits of the New Covenant: the fruit of peace. Jesus cautions his Apostles about the false peace offered by the world. Peace is not the mere absence of war or a false tolerance of others. True peace is both a heavenly messianic gift (a divine grace) and a task for us, a fruit of human effort collaborating with the gift of grace. The peace that Jesus gives is his personal peace. It represents his life, his love, and his joy. Sharing in Christ’s peace occurs by entering into communion with Christ and being in Christ. By entering into a communion of peace with the Son, the disciples share in the familial harmony and peace that the Son shares with the Father. The children of God are protected by the Father and dwell safely in the Father’s house. By receiving the Spirit, we live in spiritual tranquility and peace with the Father (see DeMeo, “Covenant Fulfillment in the Gospel of John,” p. 146).

2. The Conclusion of the First Missionary Journey: In the Acts of the Apostles, we read about the conclusion of the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas. They started their journey in Antioch in Syria, having been chosen by the Holy Spirit for this mission (Acts 13:2). They sailed first to Barnabas’ homeland, Cyprus, and then spread the Gospel in the southern part of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). They preached in the cities of Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. During their ministry in Lystra, Jews from Antioch in Pisidia and Iconium incited the people to stone Paul (possibly for blasphemy). They left him for dead outside the city. Paul, though, was undaunted by the stoning and, on the very next day, went with Barnabas to the city of Derbe. After making disciples for Christ there, Paul and Barnabas fearlessly retraced their steps and appointed presbyters (elders or priests) in cities they had evangelized. They eventually returned by boat to where they started and were commissioned: the Church of Antioch in Syria.

3. Two Lessons from the Journey: Paul and Barnabas learned two important lessons from their journey. First, we enter the kingdom of God through tribulations (Matthew 11:12; Luke 16:16). Preaching the Gospel means sharing in Christ's suffering and rejection. Earlier in the Acts of the Apostles, the disciples rejoiced that they had been found worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 5:41). Today’s Psalm proclaims the glory of God’s kingdom, a kingdom that is established through redemptive suffering and death. Second, Paul and Barnabas see clearly that God has opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. When the Jews rejected the Gospel message (Acts 13:45-48), they turned to the Gentiles, following the Lord's command in Isaiah 49:6. The Gentiles came to believe in Jesus Christ and received his salvation. Through their acceptance of and belief in the Gospel, the Gentiles entered into the New Covenant, established by Jesus at the Last Supper and on the Cross. On the outside, it looks like Paul and Barnabas were not granted peace. There were heated discussions between the Jews and themselves, the crowds were incited against them, and Paul was stoned. However, from God’s perspective, the two Apostles enjoyed true, divine peace and they were eager to share that peace with the Jews and the Gentiles. This peace is a fruit of reconciliation with God, a fruit of the undoing of the ancient curse of Adam, a fruit of new life in the Spirit of God.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you are the Prince of Peace and have reconciled us with the Father through your life, death, and resurrection. Attend to my prayer today and hear my cry. Teach me to be a peacemaker so that I may enjoy the blessing reserved for the adopted children of God.

Living the Word of God: At every mass, we hear the words of Christ: “Peace I leave you, my peace I give to you.” This is the peace that flows from the Eucharistic Sacrifice of the New Covenant. This is the peace that we share in. How can I be a peacemaker today and bring others to share in Christ’s peace?