Peace takes Work
I find many people want the sense of peace and fulfillment that comes from a spiritual life, but are not ready for the discipline and work of the religious life. “I’m spiritual, but not religious,” seems to mean “I want to feel connected to something spiritual” but “I don’t want to be committed to some community or structure, and I don’t want to actually have to do anything different.”
Being ‘spiritual’, does not come in three easy steps, or reading a book. Like so many other things in life, there is no magic pill to get it. Want to learn to play piano? If you want to get past plinking out “chopsticks,” then you’ll lessons, practice, and hard work, for a long time. Be an artist? Again, if you want to get past an occasional doodle, there will be years of work, study, practice and many failures.
Jesus’ promise of peace to the disciples is an underlying theme of the Gospel of John, and features prominently in Sunday’s Gospel lesson. (Click here to read it. We will read John 14:23-29.) But notice that Jesus’ words of peace are given not to the crowds but to the disciples: not to the occasionally curious, but to the committed followers.
The gift of peace that comes with faith is something that requires the full commitment to following Jesus, not to the one who shows up once a week for a little “pick me up,” or worse, just a couple of times a year.
The peace that Jesus promises comes to those who are not just looking for peace, but are committed to the full life of following Jesus. There are no shortcuts or simple tricks. But the rewards are worth the effort!
What are you prepared to commit to?
This column appeared in the May 22, 2022 edition of St. John’s eNews. Click here for the complete issue.
If you are reading this at a different time, you may click here for the current eNews.
