Sixth Sunday of Easter
Dear friends,
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus speaks words of deep reassurance to His disciples—and to us: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”
These words, spoken on the eve of His Passion, carry profound weight. Jesus knew what awaited Him: betrayal, suffering, torture and death. In this context, he wants to give us a vital lesson: it is possible to be at peace in the middle of difficulties!
Our lady of Guadalupe mirrors the words of her Son when she says to Juan Diego in the middle of winter, when his uncle was about to die: "Let not your heart be troubled... Am I not here, who is your Mother?"
Life can be full of movements of difficulty and uncertainty. Students face exams, decisions about their future, financial burdens, and personal struggles. The rest of us might have to navigate busy schedules, work pressures, and the care of their families and communities. And on top of that, we have the issues of our city, state, country and the world. That is a lot! In this context, it is easy for our hearts to become troubled, for anxiety to seep in quietly and steal our inner peace.
But Jesus offers us something deeper than worldly peace. The peace of Christ is not the absence of struggle; it is the presence of God in the midst of it. He promises that those who love Him and keep His word will be drawn into the very life of the Trinity: “We will come to him and make our dwelling with him.” God does not remain distant in our trials—He dwells with us in the difficulties.
Christ’s peace is a gift rooted in relationship, not circumstance. It calms the heart not because all problems are solved, but because we are not alone. The Holy Spirit, the Advocate, is with us to remind us of all that Jesus has said. He helps us remember that even in difficulty, God’s love and purpose remain.
This week, as we reflect on this Gospel, let us ask ourselves: Where do I seek peace? Is it in control, success, or security? Or is it in the presence of Christ, who walks with me through uncertainty? Let us pray for the grace to receive His peace—to let it settle into our anxious hearts and guide us forward with hope.
May the peace of Christ, which surpasses all understanding, be with you always. And may your heart, no matter what challenges come, remain untroubled in His love.
- Fr. Carlos Keen, Parochial Vicar
