Some time ago, a commentary on the Gospel of John 14, published on the Christian Art website, caught my attention. Christian Art is a website whose mission is to offer a path to God through the beauty of art and the Gospel. Every day, it features a work of art relevant to the Gospel passage of the day, accompanied by a brief reflection. The author of this commentary focused in particular on verse 27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you,” pairing it with a work by BANKSY titled CND Soldiers (we cannot reproduce it here due to copyright restrictions, but I invite you to view it) and recalling that Pope Leo XIV repeatedly calls us to recognize that peace is not optional. He then quotes n. 2304 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which states that “Respect for and development of human life require peace. Peace is not merely the absence of war, and it is not limited to maintaining a balance of powers between adversaries. Peace cannot be attained on earth without safeguarding the goods of persons, free communication among men, respect for the dignity of persons and peoples, and the assiduous practice of fraternity. Peace is the tranquility of order. Peace is the work of justice and the effect of charity.” Order. This word immediately reminded me of St. Maria De Mattias and her call to collaborate with God in preserving that beautiful order of things that the great Son of God came to establish on earth. We are called, first and foremost as Christians and then as ASCs, to commit ourselves to peace, which is the tranquility of order, for “Earthly peace is the image and fruit of the peace of Christ, the messianic Prince of Peace. By the blood of his Cross, in his own person he killed the hostility, he reconciled men with God and made his Church the sacrament of the unity of the human race and of its union with God (n. 2305). Peace is not something that concerns only leaders or diplomats. Peace concerns everyone because it is everyone’s right. Let us ask Jesus for the strength and courage to recognize that He is our peace, and that we can be sowers of hope, promoters of communion, and peacemakers.
Sr Barbara Perali, ASC