A Peace That Is Attainable
First, Happy Easter!
It’s hard for a Christian believer to ignore Easter, arguably the most important feast day for Christians. But I know that for many people who are searching for God – and this would, perhaps, include many people of faith – belief in Jesus’ resurrection is hard to accept.
Acquisition of faith is a process, sometimes a long one, so I don’t feel obliged to deal with faith in the resurrection in this blog. But I want to write about something that Jesus is recorded as saying upon greeting his disciples after his resurrection, according to the author of the Gospel of John.
In the penultimate chapter of John’s gospel, the author describes the scene. His disciples had been hiding out, the gospel says, “for fear of the Jews.” Their leader had been executed, after all, and no one knew if the authorities would now come after his disciples.
Frustrated, disillusioned and disappointed
Besides, the disciples were undoubtedly frustrated, disillusioned and disappointed over the apparent demise of the one in whom they had placed their hopes that – as Luke’s gospel describes it – “he would be the one to redeem Israel.”
But without any additional information about time or place, John’s gospel says, “Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’” Then he says it again, and again; three times in only seven verses of the gospel.
Why did Jesus use this manner of greeting and why did the author of the gospel choose to repeat it so often? Jesus undoubtedly knew of his disciples’ suffering, their fear, their disillusionment, and he didn’t want them to be anxious. He was reassuring them, bolstering their faith in him.
To me, the author of the gospel was sending a powerful message to early Christians and to all who are searching for God. Many of us may have feelings about the search that are similar to those of the disciples. We may grow disillusioned about not finding the answers we’re looking for (Could we be looking for the wrong answers in the wrong places?) We may be anxious about the search, despairing of ever having a grasp on faith after years of trying.
“Peace be with you,” says Jesus.
Not a Source of Anxiety
Faith, or lack of it, is not meant to be a source of anxiety. Faith, even in incremental amounts, brings peace and joy, and all of us have some measure of faith – even those with great doubt. Jesus, after all, in several parables says that people have faith “a hundredfold” and several lesser amounts.
But what is this “peace?” Some believe it’s merely the absence of conflict. Others immediately think of the conflict among nations, or conflict in families. But there is a “biblical” meaning of peace and it’s probably what the author of John had in mind.
“Peace,” according to John L. McKenzie’s Dictionary of the Bible, “is the fruit of spiritual-mindedness. …Peace is communion with God. …It is also a state of interior calm and of harmonious relations….”
The Apostle Paul, in his Letter to the Philippians, assures his readers that if they’re faithful in prayer, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,” will keep them faithful. That implies that peace, like faith, is a gift and is derived from faith. Peace, seems to me, also results from trust in God, which, like faith, is a challenge for most of us.
Not private and selfish
This kind of peace, this interior peace that comes from a serious search for God, isn’t just a private, selfish pursuit, however. It results in advocacy for non-violence. It’s a pretty sure bet that a person who is violent, who sees violence as the best and normal way to solve problems, lacks inner peace. Adversely, it’s probable that the person who has inner peace rejects violence.
Thomas Merton, the famous Trappist monk who was a writer, theologian and mystic, illustrates the point.
“I make monastic silence a protest against the lies of politicians, propagandists and agitators, and when I speak it is to deny that my faith and my Church can ever seriously be aligned with these forces of injustice and destruction.
“…“If I say no to all these secular forces, I also say yes to all that is good in the world and in humanity. I say yes to all that is beautiful in nature… I say yes to all the men and women who are my brothers and sisters in the world.”
On this Easter of 2018, I join in that “yes” and add for all those searching for God, “Peace be with you.”
