There’s a lot of turmoil in the world right now. The stock market swings wildly, prices keep rising, and uncertainty seems to be everywhere. People worry about their jobs and how they’ll provide for their families. Many nations are at war or teetering on the edge of it, and it’s getting harder to feel safe or secure. Yet even in the midst of all this chaos and suffering, Jesus still says, “Peace be with you.”
Think of any action or superhero movie—there’s always that moment when the hero walks calmly in slow motion, explosions erupting behind them. It’s hard to imagine staying that calm in the middle of chaos, but we can cultivate that same inner peace. We may not like what’s happening around us, but when we realign our priorities and focus on what truly matters, life’s disruptions affect us less and less.
Our relationship with God should be the most important part of our lives. If we stay close to Him, what do we really have to fear? Even if we lose everything—even our lives—if we reach Heaven, we’ve succeeded. Still, fear creeps in. The apostles knew that feeling well. After Jesus’ death, they locked themselves in a room, terrified they’d be next. Then Jesus appeared to them and said, “Peace be with you.” He reassured them not to fear.
Fear can paralyze us and keep us from moving forward. It’s natural to feel afraid sometimes. Fear can protect us, but we can’t let it rule us or rob us of our joy.
This Sunday, we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday and proclaim, “Jesus, I trust in You!” Jesus calls us to trust in Him, to remember that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Trusting Him doesn’t mean we’ll avoid suffering. He endured intense pain, and if we follow Him, we should expect some of the same. But His path leads to eternal happiness. And honestly, enduring temporary pain for eternal joy sounds far better than the reverse.
When we learn what truly deserves our concern and what doesn’t, peace begins to grow in us. And from that place of peace, we can bring hope and healing to the world. Like the song says, let there be peace on Earth—and let it begin with me.
