I am struggling to understand peace. How can the pursuit of peace mean that we deploy thousands of armed troops to Iraq? How can finding peace mean suicide bombers in Israel and Palestine, in Spain, and in the United States? How can peace-loving people torture and execute other peace-seeking people? How can all of this happen in the name of peace?
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
And where is peace in my life? Where is peace when school conflicts are resolved in gunfire? Where is peace when I can hear my parents arguing in the next room? Where is peace when someone’s reputation is destroyed by gossip and “trash talk”?
Not as the world gives do I give it to you.
This cannot be the peace Jesus meant for us. It cannot be the peace that he shared with the Apostles when he promised to send the Holy Spirit to help them, teach them, and remind them of all he had told them.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
My heart is troubled, Lord, and I am afraid. Afraid that we’ll never figure out that war doesn’t lead to peace and revenge can’t settle anything. Afraid that we’ll never learn that injury cannot bring healing. Afraid that we’ll never accept that sticks and stones may break our bones and words really can hurt us.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
I still don’t understand peace, but if it is a gift from Jesus then I choose to unwrap it. When I feel threatened by people with different values and ideas, I choose peace. When there is tension in my family, I choose peace. When I am tempted to say or do things that might hurt another, I choose peace. This is my pledge:
Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now.
With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow,
To take each moment and live each moment, in peace, eternally,
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.
(from "Let There Be Peace on Earth" by Sy Miller and Bill Jackson)