The path to peace

Some … have upset you … and disturbed your peace of mind. (Acts 15:24)

It’s a common frustration. You buy something on eBay or from an online retailer or at the local hardware store. But when you begin to use the item, you discover that it’s defective—nicked, outdated, or missing a crucial bolt. The product can’t do the job you thought it could do.

In a way, this is why the new Christians of Antioch were upset. However, their disappointment centered not on a product but on the gospel! These Gentiles had joyfully believed the good news announced by Paul, but after him came other preachers who claimed that he had given them a deficient message. It wasn’t enough to believe in Jesus, they said: “Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved”

(Acts 13:48; 15:1). The Church’s leaders in Jerusalem ruled otherwise, and today’s reading quotes the letter in which they communicated their decision. Essentially, it was: No, you don’t need to observe the Mosaic law. Faith in Christ is what’s essential. 

Christians no longer feel that they need to follow the Mosaic law. We believe that we are saved by the grace of a loving Father who wants to give us good gifts. At least, that’s what we believe. But when our daily crosses get a bit too heavy, when we’re tempted, drained, confused, or at a loss, we can begin to think that the gospel is deficient or defective in some way. 

Jesus didn’t come to guarantee us health, wealth, and prosperity. He came to promise us one thing: “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). He is with us to guide us, to comfort us, and to encourage us. He has given us his Spirit so that we can stand tall, even when all around us seems to be falling apart. He gives us the same promise he gave to St. Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness”(2 Corinthians 12:9). 

So if you’re feeling overwhelmed today, step back, consider the big picture, and put your faith in Jesus. For you, as for those early Christians, it’s the path to peace of mind.

“Jesus, I see so many needs—mine, my family’s, those of the Church and the world. Help me to look up, trust you to provide, and receive the peace and assurance you want to give me.”

from wau.org

lessons from pointilism

My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. (John 14:27)

In the late nineteenth century, French artists experimented with a new technique in painting called pointillism. They used small dots of color to create pictures. Up close, dots are all you can see. But step back, and the picture becomes clear! Sometimes, our lives can be like that. Daily joys and problems, ups and downs, can loom large before our eyes. We get distracted by the chaotic or colorful or tragic moments. We lose our peace or get swept up into an unwarranted sense of excitement. We forget to step back and see the big picture.

The peace that Jesus promises us in today’s Gospel reading is not something we conjure up on our own. It doesn’t come from manipulating our circumstances so that nothing ruffles our feathers. It’s far more solid and reliable than that.

Look at Paul and Barnabas: they certainly had ups and downs! They were threatened with being stoned while in Iconium, so they moved to Lystra, where the people hailed them as gods. But these same people were easily swayed and attacked Paul, leaving him for dead. Then, escaping Lystra, Paul and Barnabas ended up making a “considerable number” of disciples elsewhere.

According to the world, these men should have felt anxious, not peaceful. But they didn’t. Writing years later, Paul said, “I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance… . I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me” (Philippians 4:12, 13).

Will we face ups and downs? Fickle responses from people? Happiness interspersed with hardship? Yes. But we can still find peace in Christ. 

How? By stepping back and looking at the big picture. Lean into the arms of the divine Artist who is painting the masterpiece of your life. The chaos and beauty will become clearer, and God’s vision will make more sense as you look beyond your changing circumstances and remember his love and provision. So today and every day, take a deep breath, and ask the Lord for his gift of peace.

“Jesus, you are my Prince of Peace!”

 from wau.org

Overwhelming peace.

The days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone. (Luke 21:6)

If you’ve been to the movies recently, you’ve probably noticed that the world seems to be ending a lot lately! In World War Z, the earth is threatened by zombies who are victims of a global pandemic. When the film Oblivion opens, our planet is already a wasteland. In Man of Steel, Superman has to save the world from destruction by aliens. The fact that these films are so popular may well be a sign that people are looking at the world today and not finding much hope for the future. 

But Jesus would advise us to look at the “signs of the times” differently. When we hear of wars and global catastrophes, we shouldn’t be terrified. When films and television shows try to whip up a fear of the end times, we shouldn’t listen to them (Luke 21:8-9). Of course, we shouldn’t try to ignore reality when a very disturbing event takes place. But we should also know that none of these are the end. They’re not even what the end is going to look like!

In fact, the end is really a beginning, and it isn’t something we should fear. Why? Because that’s when Jesus returns in glory! Yes, some catastrophic events may take place before that day. But Jesus tells us that they are “labor pains,” (Matthew 24:8). They are necessary because the world isn’t ready for Jesus to come back yet. But if we keep our hearts fixed on the Lord, we can be ready. He will keep us in perfect peace if we put our trust in him (Isaiah 26:3). 

How do we maintain that peace? When negative and despairing thoughts come, remind yourself of his promises. You don’t have to fear “the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day” (Psalm 91:5). You can call out to the Lord, “My rock, my fortress, my deliverer” (2 Samuel 22:2). Tell yourself that no matter what happens, Jesus will “never fail you or forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6). Your mind is where the battle rages most fiercely, not the world. So take those thoughts captive, and rest in his mercy! 

credit: www.wau.org