May 5: Peace / Paz

In John 14,27, Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” Both in this passage and throughout all of the Bible, the word “peace” is always much more than a cessation of or an absence of hostilities. It has to do with a right relationship with God and with others – and with others because of that right relationship with God. In this picture, there is no peace if there is no peace with God. How often, though, do we settle for less, but still want to call it peace?

If we are not actually fighting, we want to say we are “at peace.” And we always use this expression “war has broken out,” implying it was always there, dormant within us, waiting to cross over into action. Why do we never talk about peace breaking out? Of course, it can only break out if it is first within us, right? But it is in us. 

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The Jews of old said (and Jews of our own day still say), “Shalom!” – a greeting which means, “Peace!” This greeting, however, can become superficial unless we see something of God in it. It is not just a vague wish for the other person, like “Have a nice day!” It is a prayer for full harmony with God. Wish someone God’s peace today – it won’t be hard: His peace is already within you, waiting to break out.  

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Según los Hechos de los Apóstoles (14, 19-28), para llevar a cabo su misión de anunciar el Evangelio, San Pablo – y lo mismo San Bernabé – es perseguido, apedreado, y echado de un lugar a otro. Pero él no se rinde, sigue fundando comunidades cristianas y dándoles una estructura básica de liderazgo, de forma que puedan funcionar por sí mismas. Tiene incluso el valor y la fortaleza para  animar y “poner un corazón nuevo en los discípulos,” y para reconocer que Dios ha realizado grandes cosas en ellos.
 Así mismo, Cristo, antes de su Pasión y muerte (en Juan 14, 27-31), habla de paz y anima a los Apóstoles a no preocuparse ni sentir miedo. Nada ni nadie le va a impedir a Él llevar a cabo su misión de amor. Nadie tampoco nos va a arrebatar a nosotros la paz interior, la serenidad, y la libertad – si estamos unidos a Dios en el amor.