Peace Is Not the Absence of Battle

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In today’s Gospel, the disciples finally say to Jesus, “Now you are talking plainly.” It sounds like they are relieved. Like they finally “get it.” And Jesus responds in a surprising way. He basically says: Do you really? Then He tells them: “The hour is coming when each of you will be scattered.” That line hits deeply because every one of us knows what it means to scatter. We scatter when suffering comes. We scatter when prayers seem unanswered. We scatter when fear gets louder than faith. Sometimes we even scatter internally – one part of us wants to trust God, another part wants to run. And Jesus knows that. What is striking is that Jesus does not shame the disciples for their weakness. He knows they will panic. Yet He still loves them. He still chooses them. He still prepares them for peace.

That’s important because many of us think peace comes when life finally becomes manageable. When anxiety disappears. When conflict ends. When the family is healed. When the future feels secure. But Jesus says: “In the world you will have trouble. But take courage; I have conquered the world.” He does not say, “You might have trouble.” He says, you will. Christianity is not denial. Jesus never promised a painless life. He promised His presence in the middle of it. And that changes everything. Because Christian peace is not the absence of battle. Christian peace is knowing Who stands with you in the battle.

I think one of the greatest temptations today is the temptation to believe that if we struggle, then we must be failing spiritually. But look at the apostles. They loved Jesus sincerely and still struggled. They believed and still became afraid. Holiness is not never falling apart. Holiness is returning to Christ every time we do. Jesus says, “You will leave me alone.” Then immediately He says, “But I am not alone because the Father is with me.”

That is the secret. The world changes constantly. People fail us. Emotions rise and fall. But the Father never abandons the Son, and through Christ, we are never abandoned either. So maybe today Jesus is asking us one question: What are you placing your peace in? Because if our peace depends on circumstances, it will disappear the moment life gets hard. But if our peace depends on Christ, then even storms cannot take it away.

The victory Jesus speaks about is not just His victory someday. It is His victory now. The Cross looked like defeat, but it became triumph. And some of the places in your life that look like defeat right now may become the very place where Christ reveals His strength.

So do not be afraid if your faith feels tested. Do not be discouraged if you feel weak. The disciples scattered but Jesus gathered them again. And He still does that with us.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, sometimes my heart scatters in fear, doubt, and worry. Teach me to find my peace not in easy circumstances, but in You. When life becomes heavy, remind me that You have already conquered the world. Stay with me in every battle, and gather me back whenever I drift away. Amen.

– Homily by Rev Fr Patrick Agbeko