Peace I Leave With You – Sixth Friday of the Holy Fifty Days

In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, One God. Amen.
May the blessing of the Father who calls us and His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ who saves us,
and the Holy Spirit who sanctifies and transforms us be with us all,
that we may hear His word and bear fruit—thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold. Amen.

Gospel Reading

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27, NKJV)

1. What Is Peace?

Peace, in Christ, is not the absence of problems, but the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Lord gave His disciples peace on the eve of His Passion, not when things were easy, but when He was preparing for the Cross. This peace is rooted in God’s unchanging love and power. As St. Cyril of Alexandria wrote, “The peace therefore that is above all principality… is the Spirit of Christ, by Which the Son reconciles all things to God the Father.”

“My peace I leave with you… this was clearly nothing else but saying: I will bring the Spirit.” – St. Cyril of Alexandria

This means peace is not just an emotion. It is a Person—the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. Peace is the fruit of communion with Christ, and the proof of God’s presence in a believer’s heart.

2. Why Do We Lose Our Peace?

We lose our peace not when circumstances change, but when we are not grounded in Christ. According to St. Augustine, “Peace is serenity of thought, tranquillity of mind, simplicity of heart, the bond of love.” Without this inner anchoring, external storms disturb us.

“The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

When the disciples were in the boat, it was not the storm that terrified them, but their lack of trust. Jesus was with them, yet they panicked. We too lose peace when we forget: He is in the boat with us.

3. Peace and Mental Health

In a world full of anxiety, depression, and emotional turmoil, peace becomes a healing balm. The Church Fathers tell us that peace flows from purity. When sin dominates the heart, fear follows. When the Spirit rules, peace reigns.

“The thing that removes peace from man is sin.” – Fr. L. Sidaros

From a Christian mental health perspective, peace helps us regulate emotions, reduce stress, and live with emotional clarity. Peace makes us less reactive, more compassionate, and spiritually alert.

4. The Practice of Peace

St. Anthony the Great said, “Let us strive to attain the peace of Christ.” How?

  • Daily Prayer: Prayer reconnects the soul to its Source. Peace is renewed with every genuine cry of the heart.
  • Holy Communion: In the Liturgy we say: “Grant us Your peace.” Receiving the Eucharist unites us to the Prince of Peace.
  • Confession: Sin burdens the soul and disrupts peace. A sincere confession heals this division.
  • Forgiveness: “If you remember your brother has something against you… go and reconcile first.” (Matthew 5:23-24)
  • Serving Others: The more we give, the more peace we receive. Peace grows through love.

5. Church Unity and the Peace of the Body

Peace is not only personal but communal. In every Liturgy we pray for the “peace of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.”

“Let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” (Romans 14:19)

St. Cyprian taught that peace among brethren is the condition for acceptable worship. A church without peace is like a body in convulsions. A united Church reflects the unity of the Trinity and becomes a haven of healing for the world.

6. A Final Word: The Test of Peace

Peace is tested in suffering. The Cross is the furnace of peace. Christ did not say, “You will have peace” while seated in glory—but on the way to Gethsemane. Our greatest witness to the world is this: we have peace even when everything shakes.

“Also if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me.” (Psalm 23:4)

Peace is not the silence of trouble, but the presence of Christ. A Christian full of peace is like a lighthouse in the storm, a living witness to the Prince of Peace.

Practical Practice

  • Before reacting in anger, take a breath and whisper: “Peace I leave with you, O Lord.”
  • Each morning, pray Psalm 23 and ask for peace to fill your mind.
  • Reconcile with someone you are at odds with—even with a text or prayer.
  • Commit to making your home a place of peace. Turn off distractions. Create silence. Invite Christ.
  • Before sleeping, ask yourself: “Did I guard the peace of Christ today?”
May the Lord bless us, transform our hearts and minds, that our homes may stand on the Rock,
our hands serve in the harvest, and our hearts long for Heaven. Amen.