Wednesday, April 16 John 14:27

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not let them be afraid.

DO NOT WORRY

My first thought whenever I read this text — do not let your hearts be troubled and do not let them be afraid — is “easier said than done”!

When my middle son was in college, he ended up in the hospital with what the doctor thought were kidney stones. But the scans were suspicious, and there was concern that it might be something more serious. Tests were run during the day, but we had to wait until the doctor made rounds at night to find out the results. I was a nervous wreck. At one point, my son turned to me and said, “Mom, just quit worrying.”

“Jon,” I replied, “you are on drugs (morphine). I am not. Don`t tell me to stop worrying. I`m your mom, and I`m going to worry.” (He did end up having kidney stones and was fine once they removed the stones.)

With everything happening in the world, it is hard not to be anxious, not to be afraid — certainly afraid for our neighbors given the changes in government policies and executive orders from the president. It is hard to see and hear what is really going on; to be awake and aware of what is happening in our country, our communities, even our churches, yet still experience the peace Jesus gives.

But that is precisely the promise of faith — peace not as the world gives, not by ignoring the challenging and scary realities, not by silencing voices that challenge the status quo — but the peace that comes from trusting in the one who holds us in love, a love from which nothing can separate us.

And so we pray, come and fill our hearts with your peace, you alone, O Lord, are holy. Come and fill our hearts with your peace. Alleluia. (Alleluia — even in the season of Lent!) Amen

Bishop Susan Candea

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