John 14:23-29 Jesus said to Judas (not Iscariot), "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.
"I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, `I am going away, and I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe.”
Reflection Can you picture Jesus dictating his Last Will and Testament? I, Jesus, residing in the city of Nazareth in the state of Israel, being of sound mind and memory do make, publish and declare this to be my Last Will and Testament. I give and bequeath all that I have, tangible and intangible to my friends, now and for all time.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives,” no baskets, bowls or blankets, no mud bricks nor oil lamps. Only “my peace I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”
This is good news, right? Peace is precisely what we need today. Healing our ailing body. Resolution of conflicts with family and friends. Cessation of shootings, riots and insurgencies. Conclusion of political brawling. Termination of war and threats of war. A conflict free happily ever after life. So Jesus, where is the peace that you leave with the disciples and us today? Not really feeling it!
Peace that the world gives is dependent on circumstances. We experience worldly peace when we and our loved ones are healthy, our friends are trustworthy and the stock market is stable. We enjoy worldly peace when the neighbor’s dog is quiet, our computers are working and no one or nothing is causing us disturbance or inconvenience. Of course, all of these circumstances are subject to change in a heartbeat. Then what happens to our peace?
Peace that Jesus gives is "not as the world gives." Jesus’ peace does not depend on the fickle tides of time nor does it remove us from trouble or tragedy. Jesus’ peace accompanies us as we sail life’s surly seas, from the heights of success to the depths of distress. Regardless of our shifting situation Jesus’ peace guards us as a durable stillness of our hearts and quiet equanimity of our minds. This peacefulness of heart and mind persists in spite of our temperamental status or erratic circumstance.
And, Jesus’ peace comes with a cost. To receive our inheritance of peace we must put a leash on our leaping minds and harness our devouring emotions. How do we do that? By refusing the three enemies of divine consciousness; discontent, covetousness and envy. The price of peace is consent. Like it or not, Jesus’ peace demands we consent to our situation exactly as it is. Discontent, covetousness and envy are the enemies of peace.
“Peace comes of its own accord when we no longer covet.” (Tao Teh Ching) This bit of Taoist wisdom has served me well. To covet is to crave or begrudge, to strive for something that is not. Coveting is the opposite of what we watch Jesus do as he faces persecution, suffering and death. “If I do not have to drink this cup it is alright with me. Still, “not my will, your will be done.”” Peace is the consort of consent. Consent dismisses the enemies of divine consciousness.
Writing from prison to the first church he established in Europe, the apostle Paul is at peace when he pens his letter to the Philippians. Paul wants the people of Philippi who have supported him from the beginning of his ministry to know that even if he is put to death, they should not be concerned. (Phil 2.17-18) Paul implores them, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds.“(Phil 4.6-7)
Here is the bad news. If our peace depends upon our good health, the resolution of conflicts with our family and friends, the cessation of shootings, riots and insurgencies, the conclusion of political brawling and the termination of war and threats of war, our hearts and minds will always be troubled. We will always be afraid.
Here is the good news. Paul gives us the key to receiving our full inheritance from Jesus, “Be anxious for nothing.” When we consent to reality exactly as it is the peace that is beyond our understanding, will of its own accord guard the stillness of our hearts and the presence of our minds. So breath deeply and "be anxious for nothing." Receive your inheritance.“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”
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