(USA) SAINT ROSE PHILIPPINE DUCHESNE, VIRGIN (OPTIONAL MEMORIAL)

If this day you only knew what makes for peace. 

What heartache Jesus must have felt as he gazed upon Jerusalem! He knew that the beloved city of God’s people would ultimately face destruction because of their refusal to accept him. He was the only one who could bring them peace, but they rejected him.

The peace that Jesus offers is not just the absence of conflict. It’s also not the surface-level, sweep-the-differences-under-the-rug kind of peace. It’s a peace that comes when there is true reconciliation, when we are willing to receive mercy from him and offer it to each other. Only then is it possible to live in authentic peace amidst the challenges and messiness of life in this world.

While it’s a constant challenge to be merciful, Jesus’ example can inspire us. He did not retaliate against his enemies; instead, he forgave them. He overcame sin and death not through violence but by offering himself as a sacrifice on the cross. He never forced Jerusalem to accept him, even though he knew that the consequences of their rejection would be dire.

If we want to experience this kind of peace, we will have to follow Jesus’ example. We won’t find it if we’re intent on getting our own way or insisting on getting back at someone. Neither will we be peaceful if we’re bottling up resentment just so that we can “get along.” Instead, it will mean forgiving the people who have hurt us and letting go of past history. It may also mean letting go of the fear that if we surrender our “right” to be angry or resentful, Jesus’ grace won’t be enough to sustain us.

If you’re struggling to offer or receive God’s mercy, visualize Jesus as he wept over the city. He ardently wanted Jerusalem to accept him and the peace he came to bring. That’s what he wants for you too. Whether you need peace in your heart or your family, in your parish or your workplace, Jesus is ready to give it to you. He is the one who makes for peace. He comes with the grace to help us forgive and to love one another as he loved us. Will you accept it?

“Lord Jesus, I receive your peace. Heal the divisions in my world, in my church, in my family, and in my heart.”

1 Maccabees 2:15-29
Psalm 50:1-2, 5-6, 14-15
Luke 19:41-44