We can still wish you a “Happy Easter” as we have two more weeks before the Easter Season concludes with the Feast of Pentecost. And this weekend, we can also wish you a “Happy Memorial Day.”
Memorial Day was first known by another name, Decoration Day. It was the day that people would go to the cemetery and place flowers on the graves of those who died in the Civil War. Decoration Day was later changed to Memorial Day to remember those who died in all wars, not just those who died in the Civil War.
Unofficially, it also marks the beginning of summer.
Don’t confuse Memorial Day with Veteran’s Day. Veteran’s Day is celebrated in November and honors all those, living or dead, who served honorably in the Armed Forces.
Our gospel this Memorial Day weekend speaks of Christ’s Peace and is the perfect passage to reflect on as we remember those that have died in service to our country.
When Jesus speaks of peace, He makes it very clear that His peace is much different from worldly peace. “Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives, do I give to you.” What is the difference between world peace and the Peace of Christ?
Jesus does not give us the peace of the United Nations or some other organization, such as a treaty or negotiations between victorious and defeated people. Nor does He give us the peace produced by a court judgment.
The peace of Jesus comes from a healthy relationship with God.
World peace is short-term, like comfort food, it is a temporary pleasure. It is dependent on our feelings.
The Peace of Christ is long standing because it is within us. It is dependent on trust and is trusting in God.
The peace of Christ is everlasting. It is the peace that comes knowing that Christ is always present. To experience this peace, you allow Christ to take over your whole self. You relax in His divine presence, no matter where you are.
What gives you peace? To one person, it is a cup of hot tea. To another person, it is putting the kids to bed for the night. Yet, for another, it might be reconciliation with God or totally trusting in God. Or it might be a combination of things and feelings.
Once a king offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The king looked at all the pictures, but there were only two he really liked.
One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror, reflecting the peaceful towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought it was a perfect picture of peace.
The other picture had mountains, too, but these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky from which rain fell, and lightning was striking. Down the side of the mountain was a roaring waterfall. The king saw a tiny bush growing in the crack of the rock. In the bush, a bird had built a nest. In the midst of the rushing waterfall the mother bird sat in the nest with her newly hatched baby.
The king chose the second picture, and he was asked, “Why?”
“Because,” explained the king, “Peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or difficult circumstances. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart.
This week, think deeply about what brings you peace. May you have a peaceful heart because you totally trust in God on this Memorial Day.
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