“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.”
John 14:27
The central of Jesus’ parting words in the Gospel today, are the gift of peace and the promise of the Spirit. The Spirit of God who would teach and remind them of all that he had shared with them and in time, would give them the courage and strength to regroup and embrace the mission. The Hebrew word for peace as found in this passage, Shalom, seems to capture the truth of this gift. It is more than just the absence of strife, it is the state of positive well-being, a sense of wholeness and harmony that focuses primarily on our relationship with God but inevitably flows into our relationships with others. Nevertheless, the peace most of us yearn for is often not the one Jesus offers. Most of us would be content with a peace that answers our daily human needs, an easy peace, even if at times, it might turn out to be a temporary one. Today we are invited to ask ourselves if we truly understand this gift of peace: the power to be at peace and reconciled with God and others; to trust in him in the moments of trial and tribulation in life; to stand firm and in obedience to what God has asked of us through the events of our lives. This is true peace; our challenge is to reach out and make it our own!
Where do I find my peace?
Heavenly Father, we need your peace. Please help us every day to find it correctly, and allow us to bring your peace to others, in the name of Jesus, amen.
Today’s Reflection is by:
Deacon Elix Castro
Did you know...
Deacon Elix Castro and was born in Lares, Puerto Rico. He is married to Lucy, his wife of 34 years and is the father of four children; Fr. Xavy, Zul, Aizy and Jay. He and his wife founded the MDS ministry, which is a marriage support group, that serves the Diocese of Saint Petersburg and other dioceses in the United States and Mexico. He has a degree in Radio and TV communications from University of Puerto Rico and has worked in secular radio and TV stations in Puerto Rico and USA. He also does a daily meditation of the word in Spanish through Catolico Hoy YouTube channel. He was ordained as permanent deacon in this diocese in 2015, and currently serves at Nativity Parish in Brandon.
