6th Sunday of Easter - C 2025

We are living in anxious times.  Studies show that around one in five adults has been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder – and that number is even higher among younger generations.  It’s not hard to see why.  We live with constant exposure to every crisis, tragedy, and scandal in the world, all at our fingertips.  We carry in our pockets portals of information that can bombard us with bad news at any moment.  It’s no wonder our peace is fragile.

And yet Jesus says, “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.”

Let’s take a closer look at what He means.

These words are part of Jesus’ farewell discourse at the Last Supper in the Gospel of John.  He has just promised His disciples that He would not leave them orphaned.  He says, “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” (John 14:26)

The peace Jesus gives, then, is not just a vague sense of calm.  It’s the peace that comes from the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.  His peace is personal, enduring, and rooted in relationship.

That’s very different from the kind of peace the world offers.  Worldly peace usually means the absence of conflict or danger.  If everything is going smoothly, we feel secure.  But as soon as our health, finances, or relationships are threatened, that peace disappears.

The peace of Jesus, by contrast, is not the absence of trouble but the presence of God.  It’s the peace that gave the apostles boldness and courage even in the face of persecution.  All but John were martyred – and yet they had peace.  Why?  Because they knew that even if everything fell apart, one thing remained true: they had the Holy Spirit and they were destined for Heaven.  The Holy Spirit was with them.  They trusted Jesus’ promise that He would return for them and that nothing could separate them from the love of God.  That’s what made their peace unshakable.

But here’s a hard truth: many Christians today seem just as anxious and restless as everyone else.

Why?

In some cases, it’s because we’ve misunderstood what it means to follow Christ.  We have lost sight of the big picture.  We have lost the plot.  Too often, we reduce the faith to a list of rules, obligations, and Sunday duties.  Our religion can feel like just another burden.  “Wouldn’t I be more at peace if I didn’t have to worry about Church and rules and guilt?” some might wonder.

This is a real temptation.  But it’s based on an anemic understanding of the Gospel.  The Christian life is not primarily about rules – it’s about a relationship that has a story.

When we forget the story – the story of our fall and redemption – we lose sight of the joy and freedom of the Gospel.  We forget that our religion is not a cage, but a key.  The commandments are not shackles, but guardrails that keep us from running off a cliff and into the hands of the enemy.  As Jesus Himself said, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you… and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (Matthew 11:28–30)

We must remember the story.

God made us out of love – not out of need, boredom, or accident.  He created us to know Him, love Him, and live in communion with Him forever.

But sin entered the world, and with it came suffering, confusion, and death.  We turned away from God and lost our peace.  Mankind grew restless and sought rest in created things.  And in their searching, they lost sight of their Creator.  They lost sight of why they were made.  They were lost.  And we have an enemy who wants to keep us lost.  He’s real, but he’s not equal to God.  He tempts, deceives, and stirs anxiety in our hearts, hoping to pull us away from the One who loves us.

But Christ has conquered him.

Jesus – true God and true man – broke into our broken world.  He taught, healed, and loved.  Then He did something astonishing: He died for us, taking our sins and guilt upon Himself.  He turned those weapons of the enemy in on themselves thereby destroying the mechanisms of our own destruction.  And on the third day, He rose again, breaking the power of death from within.

Now He offers us eternal life.  We have access to the Holy Spirit.  He gives us the Church and her Sacraments, channels of His grace.

This is not a myth.  It’s not a moral code.  It’s a Person.  And He is alive.

The enemy still prowls.  But he is already defeated.  His threats are hollow compared to the power of Christ.  If we belong to Jesus, we have nothing to fear.  We are beloved sons and daughters of the Father, and nothing – no illness, no hardship, no failure – can change that.

If we want peace, we must remember the bigger picture and see how the particular stories of our lives fit into the broader story of the Gospel.  We are in a battle, yes, but the victory has already been won.  Even if everything else falls apart, we still have Jesus.  And that is more than enough.

If I may, allow me to offer three recommendations to obtain and remain in the peace that Jesus offers.

First, we need to slow down enough to hear the Holy Spirit speak.  Christ called the Spirit our Comforter and Advocate.  But if our days are crammed with noise, scrolling, and stress, it’s no wonder we feel so disconnected.  Try setting aside ten quiet minutes a day – no phone, no distractions – to simply be with God.  Prayer is essential.  We must take the time to listen and speak to God.  You don’t need complex or fancy words.  Tell Him where your heart is troubled.  And then listen.  Ask Him to fill you with His peace.

Second, bring your anxieties to Jesus in the Sacraments.  Go to confession and unburden your soul.  Receive the Eucharist, not just as a weekly obligation, but as a real encounter with the Prince of Peace.

Finally, limit your intake of the voices that steal your peace.  If the news cycle, social media, or even certain conversations leave you anxious and agitated, step back.  Let Jesus – not your feed – set the tone of your day.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”  Hold fast to His peace – and never trade it for the world’s cheap imitation.  The world may crumble, but Jesus stands firm.  Cling to Him and never let go.