Oblates of St. Francis de Sales

New DeSales World Newsletter - Summer Edition

Sixth Sunday of Easter (May 1, 2005)

Suggested Emphasis

"My peace is my gift to you……but not as the world gives peace."

Salesian Perspective

Jesus makes a distinction in today's Gospel between the 'peace as the world offers it' and the peace that comes from him. What does he mean?

The American Heritage Dictionary may provide us with some clues. It defines peace as: "(1) The absence of war or hostilities; (2) An agreement or treaty to end hostilities; (3) Freedom from quarrels or disagreements: harmonious relations; (4) Public security and order; (5) Inner contentment; serenity."

The vision of peace that the world offers - appropriately enough - tells us that in order to experience true inner contentment we must first establish a world in which there is no war, no hostility, no quarrels, no disagreements, no public disorder or chaos. Tempting as this vision is to pursue, history - the world's and our own - painfully illustrates how truly fleeting and fallacious is this promise of peace.

By contrast, the peace that Jesus promises starts from within. It's about having a sense of integrity. It's about having a sense of purpose. It's about having a sense of meaning. It's about having a sense of mission. Ultimately, it's about having a clear and unambiguous sense of self - of being comfortable (but not complacent) in one's own skin - an acceptance and celebration of self that is only fully understood and achieved in the context of one's relationship with God and others.

This is the kind of peace that the world cannot give.

Ironically, it is Jesus' promise of inner peace that offers the greatest hope for (the) world ('s) peace. It is only when we have first set aside our own personal hostilities that we can truly work for a world free of war. It is only when we have first set aside our own need to always be right that we can authentically build a world in which disagreements are not the last word. It is only when we have first established some order and direction in our own lives that we can we realistically hope to achieve the same on a greater scale. It is only when we experience the power and possibility that comes from knowing - and embracing - who we really are in the sight of God that we can hope to be sources of that same power and possibility in the lives of others.

God's peace is not measured by the absence of conflict. God's peace is a function of how dedicated each one of us is to first knowing who we are so that we can see more clearly more of what the world can be and what steps we must take - together - to make that ideal, however fleeting or fragile, a reality.

Want world peace? Think global. But, like Jesus, act local.

Beginning with yourself.

Rev. Michael S. Murray, OSFS is Executive Director of the De Sales Spirituality Center.