My Peace I Give You!

Sunday, May 25, 2025

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Acts 15:1-2, 22-29; Rev 21:10-14, 22-23; Jn 14:23-29

The sixth Sunday of Easter highlights the content of Christian peace and how it is achieved in our efforts at inclusion, restoration, and establishment of justice. 

The readings of the day draw our attention to the broader theme of peace.

The first reading recounts the Jerusalem Council’s decision to include the Gentile converts in the early Christian community without requiring full adherence to the Mosaic Law, which would mean circumcision of the new converts as per the view and insistence of some Jewish Christians. When Paul and Barnabas oppose this view strongly, a delegation is sent to Jerusalem to seek clarification from the apostles and elders. The verses 22-29 present the Council’s resolution through a letter sent with Paul, Barnabas, Judas (Barsabbas), and Silas, upholding that the Gentile Christians need not follow the full Mosaic Law but should abstain from idolatry, sexual immorality, and consumption of blood or strangled animals. The passage is a testament to the early Church’s struggle and growth in learning to live as a multi-ethnic faith community. The believing community’s decision shows that it is being led by the Spirit to discern and make inclusive decisions. While there is no compromise with the essential truths, the early Christian community is able to listen to others, respect their views, and preserve the Church’s unity. Thus, peace in the early Christian community is seen in the way it moves from discord to unity. 

The second reading presents the visionary depiction of the New Jerusalem. While the verses 10-14 present the City’s radiance, glory, and splendor, what attracts our consideration is the fact that there is no temple. Why is it that in New Jerusalem there is no temple of God? It is because God’s presence now fully permeates the creation, there is no need for a separate sacred space. There is no need for sun or moon as well because God’s glory illumines the sacred City. These images help us understand that the Divine Indwelling in the City will eradicate all darkness and division. God’s presence eliminates discord, and unity is God’s peace, which He intends for all creation. 

The Gospel theme of peace is a reward for those who faithfully follow Jesus’ words. However, the peace assured by Jesus is different from its worldly counterpart. Jesus’ words help us understand the two kinds of peace. 

Passive Peace: This is merely the absence of noise. It is the presence of silence. It could refer to an unperturbed mental state that is not challenged by anything, although it could witness violence, injustice, and oppression. It could be synonymous with indifference too. Unfortunately, we often commit the mistake of interpreting passive peace as active peace.

Active Peace: It is born of the fulfillment of having done something right, and therefore it is enjoyed by people who love humanity profoundly. It prompts the peace lover to work for justice and do what justice requires. It is because the stakes of this form of peace are high that not many are prepared to embrace it. But this is what Jesus established on the cross for others. 

As disciples of Jesus, we are called to work for ‘active peace’ for which Jesus died. In his City of God, St. Augustine describes the endless battle between the forces of good and evil. We who follow Jesus are called to carry forward the struggle for good to establish the peace that Jesus describes. For it is in and through the discomfort, pain, and suffering that we are called to seek the peace that Jesus describes. 

Let us pray that we may be workers of peace that Jesus wants us to establish in the world.

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar