Suppose a young woman has her one-month baby in the mall, and a stranger runs up, takes the baby, and disappears in the crowd. How do you think the mother would feel? If, after several months, searching for the child in vain, do you think the mother would forget the incident and go on with her life? If, in an attempt to console her someone said, “The baby was only a month old; it wasn’t really a full human being yet,” do you think that would bring her peace? Or if someone said, “Don’t worry this happens to many mothers,” would that help?
Translate this to a woman who has her child torn out of her womb in an abortion. Doesn’t she feel the same way? Will platitudes like “This is your right as a woman,” or “The baby isn’t fully a human being yet,” or “You aren’t ready to take care of a baby yet,” bring inner peace to the woman who even paid to have her child taken from her? Rachel’s Vineyard is an organization that helps women who’ve had abortion grieve their loss. They assure us that their pain is not different from that of a mother suddenly losing her infant.
The world tries to create peace for us by its rationalizations and always comes up short. In fact, many times the false comforts that the world offers makes things worse. All human beings long for inner peace, and few find it.
Today Jesus speaks to us about the source of true peace (John 14:27-31).
“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you.”
Jesus alone is the source of true peace. It is not the kind of “fake peace” that the world tries to offer. Why is this so? Let’s go back to the moment that inner peace was lost. When Adam and Eve disconnected from God, disturbance took over their souls. Their sin had cut themselves off from God and anxiety began to rule their hearts. The only way their peace could be restored was to have their hearts reconnected with the heart of God. In his mercy God sent his only Son to make this possible. Jesus is the “Prince of peace.”
Jesus continued:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away, and I will come back to you.’”,
Losing Jesus was losing everything. Of course, their hearts would be troubled and afraid, how could Jesus expect otherwise. Though they would be temporarily cut off from Jesus during the time of his passion, Jesus assured them that they would be re-united to him after his resurrection. And so, knowing he would return sustained them and helped calm their fears.
If I recall correctly, about 20% of Americans have anxiety issues. The world tries to find ways to replace their anxiety with inner peace—through medicine, breathing exercises, various addictions, counselling, and empty platitudes. Though medication and counselling may bring relief to one’s anxiety, they don’t supply the deep inner peace that every human being needs.
What a gift we have hidden inside our faith, to know that Jesus is real, he loves us, he is with us, and he has the power to give peace to our souls. Do we take advantage of what we know? Do we call upon Jesus when we are troubled, afraid, or anxious, or do we try, in vain, to manufacture our own versions of peace?
