GIVING US PEACE.
INTRODUCTION
The title of my homily for this 5th Tuesday
after Easter is, “Leaving Us Peace;
Giving Us Peace.”
Today’s gospel, begins, “Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Peace I
leave with you; my piece I give to you.” [John 14:27]
“Leaving Us Peace….” That’s like Jesus leaving the gift
of peace at our doorstep or on a table for us to pick up and eat.”
“Giving Us Peace ….” That’s like Jesus standing there and
handing us peace - like the peace he gave his disciples in the Upper Room at
the time of the Resurrection and a week later to Thomas. “Peace….”
MEANING
The Greek word used which we translate into “peace” is “Eirene”.
That becomes the little used English word “irenic” -
meaning “moving towards peace or conciliation.
I thought the word “serene” comes from this as well - but Webster doesn’t seem to go that way.
However, we know the name Irene - from which this word
arises. She was the Greek Goddess of Peace.
The name Irene
according to Google means: “one who creates a serious, thoughtful nature and is shrewd, efficient, and
business-minded.”
Another Google entry describes
the name Irene as meaning, . “A crazy, fun person who doesn't care what people
think of her. Usually a pretty girl, who
easily gets her crushes to like her back.”
Is anyone here old enough to
remember the song, “Irene, good night Irene, I’ll see you in my dreams.”
WHAT DOES PEACE CONSIST OF?
The word “peace” has a whole
basketful of meanings: harmony between
people and nations; friendliness; freedom from abuse; order - as is the
opposite of disorder; rest; contentment;
shalom; wholeness; perfect….”
If that is what peace is, I pray,
“Lord Jesus
leave peace at our door
and on our table.
Lord, Jesus,
give us -
grant us - peace.
Lord Jesus,
then make us
instruments of your peace.”
AN EXAMPLE
I once heard someone tell the
following story.
There was this regular group
therapy session for 6 men. They would meet once a week.
It was action - noise - energy
- yelling - what have you - except for one man. He was always quiet, peaceful,
and never said a word. When asked if everything was okay, he would say with a
smile, “Okay!”
In the 6th time
together someone mentioned his father.
At that, this guy - who was
always perfectly calm - flicked a tiny piece of lint or dandruff off his jacket
sleeve - near his wrist.
The counselor who was running
the group spotted this and said, “Wait a minute. John did you just push a piece
of dandruff off your sleeve?”
“What?” said John.
“When Harry mentioned his
father, you went, FLIP with your fingers and knocked something off your
sleeve.”
Silence.
Then the counselor asked John,
“What about YOUR father?” - and out came
a tirade of anger.
Up to that moment in their 6th time together as a group, John was
peace and quiet. At that moment out came bursts of anger about his dad.
QUESTION
I’ve thought about that story
from time to time - wondering if everyone has a stream or flow of angry
feelings flowing in some pipe or underground stream below their surface.
Then someone goes over that manhole cover and “Boom!” - out comes a burst of
anger - and the need for inner peace.
CONCLUSION
It’s a beautiful day today.
It’s spring time.
It’s resurrection time.
It’s new life time.
Take a nice walk on the calm
side of yourself - and let Jesus walk with you and consider where you need
peace.
Maybe you’re always thinking
and saying to yourself, “All is okay” -
but underneath you have flowing an underground angry memory with God - or you’re
still angry with another - your parents - a boss - a neighbor - a priest - a
counselor - or angry at yourself - for something you did that was stupid or
sinful or dumb years and years ago.
Let Jesus touch your side -
your sleeve - and hear him say, “Peace I leave with you; my piece I give you.”
