‘My peace I give to you,’ said Jesus. A friend asked, ‘What
does it mean? I pray all the time for world peace, but it has no effect. Can it
mean peace of mind? I feel so responsible.’ Well, partly.
Ancient
writers viewed peace as cessation of war, with two faces: victory, defeat;
triumph, submission. Conquest. Does the greeting ‘peace be with you’ honour the
host, or the guest?
In John’s
Gospel, the world is a place of conflict and opposition. The peace of Jesus confronts
world strife. Viewing streams of world-contending persons ascending Parliament
Station, ready with earplugs, earmuffs, backpacks full of every possible
necessity, and most unsuitable shoes, I saw how few accepted the cross of ashes
and blessing of the day. Men particularly, with set eyes, seemed to think
contesting the world their singular responsibility. Sometimes women with
sidelong glances looked for a way out. Men and women at war with the world: all
travelling together, though often alone, to the same destination.
And the
glow of those who allowed themselves to be blessed.
The peace
of Jesus is based on a victory: cessation of a war that ended in triumph.
Therefore let not your hearts be troubled, although you are dust, and to dust
you will return.
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