They called the Church together and reported what God had done with them. Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Tuesday on the 5th week of Easter, May 4, 2021. Reading is delivered by Leni Mantili and meditation delivered by Elisabeth Mirna, from Saint Peter’s School in Jakarta, Indonesia. Acts of the Apostles 14: 19-28; Rs psalm 145: 10-11.12-13b.21; John 14: 27-31a
PEACE IS OUR WEAPON
The theme for our meditation today is: Peace Is Our Weapon. Jesus Christ had experienced on earth the various forms of human suffering as a consequence of sin and evil of this world. To face all these, He did not fight back with His divine authority which was of course more powerful, instead, He accepted them with calm, and He forgave and prayed for those who opposed and persecuted Him.
He fought this world power with peace as the weapon that He got from His own Father. His followers, those from His own family of Nazareth, the apostles and people of every generation, are prepared in such a way to be able to experience all forms suffering that He Himself had already experienced. The apostles proved that they were ready to face all kinds of suffering and they had no fear at all, because the weapon of peace was far more powerful than any other weapons. Paul and Barnabas did the same thing when they built and strengthened the existence of the Church from one place to another.
The Church and the followers of Christ in all places and times now also realize that what Jesus had said before is proved true, namely the cup of suffering He had drunk, is also drunk by His followers. The same weapon of peace is still useful, and the famous phrase always recited by the celebrant priest in the Holy Mass confirms the efficacy of this weapon, as it goes “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you.”
Jesus Christ gives us His own peace as the powerful weapon that we should use, and the best moment to use it is when we are under pressure, danger and threat of any form. Jesus had prepared us with this strategy. He already knew what would happen to each of His followers who will undergo various difficulties and sufferings.
Eventhough Christians show kindness in their testimony of faith and bring truth in their words and deeds, all are manifested on behalf of Jesus’ name, they will still face kinds of rejection and opposition. The reason for this is because Jesus’s love and truth are very much in conflict with the culture and style of people of this world that have been infected by sin and evil. But Jesus and His followers do not give up and fear. The cross must indeed be taken up and not condemned or thrown away. After bearing the cross we will achieve victory. There is resurrection and new life.
So we must be grateful and full of hope because Jesus Christ already prepared us to face the worst situation in the world, as He equiped us with the weapon of peace from Himself. Imagine if he armed us with swords or guns, it could be happened that our profile as Christians today might be the worst in the world. The peace of Jesus is actually very useful for winning souls for God. This is where the real victory to be our reward. Let’s pray. In the name of the Father … Lord Jesus Christ, fill us and Your Church with your own peace, because with this peace we are secure and safe in Your hands. Glory to the Father … In the name of the Father …
