Peace Over Chaos

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today inspire us to work with religious leaders to bring “Shalom” to our environment nearby and in our world living in chaos.

Our Response to Chaos

The Reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes the End of the First Mission of Paul and Barnabas.

* [14:23] They appointed presbyters: the communities are given their own religious leaders by the traveling missionaries. The structure in these churches is patterned on the model of the Jerusalem community (Acts 11:30; 15:2, 5, 22; 21:18). (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB, n.d.) (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 145 declares the “works of God” make God present and invite human praise.

* [Psalm 145] A hymn in acrostic form; every verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Acrostic poems usually do not develop ideas but consist rather of loosely connected statements. The singer invites all to praise God (Ps 145:1–3, 21). The “works of God” make God present and invite human praise (Ps 145:4–7); they climax in a confession (Ps 145:8–9). God’s mighty acts show forth divine kingship (Ps 145:10–20), a major theme in the literature of early Judaism and in Christianity. (Psalms, PSALM 145 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of John presents Jesus’ departure and return dialogue.

* [14:1–31] Jesus’ departure and return. This section is a dialogue marked off by a literary inclusion in Jn 14:1, 27: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

* [14:27] Peace: the traditional Hebrew salutation šālôm; but Jesus’ “Shalom” is a gift of salvation, connoting the bounty of messianic blessing.

* [14:28] The Father is greater than I: because he sent, gave, etc., and Jesus is “a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God” (Jn 8:40).

* [14:30] The ruler of the world: Satan; cf. Jn 12:31; 16:11. (John, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB, n.d.)

Mike Cherney comments that today is Cinco de Mayo, a day that recalls a spirit of resistance against overwhelming odds.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” Recalling His promise of the Spirit, I see this peace not as a serene, tranquil absence of conflict, but the support of the Spirit in the middle of the storm. It is the strength to stand up, like Paul, and declare that the power of evil cannot dominate, because there is the Spirit within.

Cinco de Mayo becomes more than a historical remembrance; it serves as a spiritual metaphor. In my trials, I am not abandoned. I have the Advocate. This Spirit can embolden one with a fire in the heart to stand firm in the face of tribulation and can offer a joy that is courageous, persevering, and profoundly hopeful.

My prayer today centers on finding my place within this reality.

Dear Lord, I live in a world that often feels chaotic and uncertain. 

Too often, I see decisions driven by self-interest rather than the common good.

 I carry concerns and fears about what lies ahead. 

Yet I trust that Your Spirit is still at work. 

Guide me in my mission, strengthen my resolve,

 and help me recognize the gifts that You provide each day. (Cherney, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “The Following of Christ,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"Come, follow Me, says the Lord. Do you love? He has hastened on, He has flown on ahead. Look and see where. O Christian, don't you know where your Lord has gone? I ask you: Don't you wish to follow Him there? Through trials, insults, the cross, and death. Why do you hesitate? Look, the way has been shown you." (excerpt from Sermon 345,6) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 14:21-26 comments that since the world isn’t the source of our peace, the world doesn’t have the power to take it away—even if we feel some agitation from time to time! Peace is not political, so political unrest doesn’t have to overwhelm us. It’s not economic, so we can find Jesus’ peace even in the face of inflation or job loss. His peace is not tied to our ability to control any of our circumstances, so as we trust the Lord, we will find a peace that, as St. Paul says, “surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7).

Let that truth sink in: the peace that will bring true rest to your heart is something you cannot accomplish with your own efforts. It comes from God, and he wants to give it to you! Just look at the first thing Jesus says to his disciples after the resurrection: “Peace be with you” (John 20:19).

You can always trust in Jesus, whether or not you feel in control of your life, whether or not you have amassed enough material treasure—no matter what challenges come your way. Because lasting peace comes directly from Jesus.

“Jesus, help me open my heart to the peace that only you can give me!” (Meditation on John 14:21-26, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments the reading from Acts presents when Paul and Barnabas are thrown out of the city and travel with great success in the Asia Minor. They appoint presbyters, who were elders rather than priests. In the Gospel of John, we learn that Jesus is going to give a different peace. The Peace that Jesus gives is doing the Will of the Father. This is the joy and peace of being where we belong. It is not dependent on happiness. The Peace of God brings comfort that dispels anxiety. Friar Jude reminds us that however a situation turns out, God will be there with us.

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces James Finley who lived in a Cistercian monastery with Thomas Merton, where he was steeped in this union and love mysticism,  reflects on the teachings of the twelfth-century mystic and monastic reformer Bernard of Clairvaux, one of the most prolific commentators on the Song of Songs. He comments on the opening lines of the Song of Songs.

Let Him kiss me with the kiss of His mouth (1:1). Who speaks? The bride. Who is she? The soul thirsting for God…. If one is a servant he is in dread of his lord’s face. If one is a hireling he hopes for pay from his lord’s hand. If one is a disciple he gives ear to his teacher. If one is a son he honors his father. But the soul who begs a kiss, is in love. Among the gifts of nature this affection of love holds first place, especially when it makes haste to return to its Origin, which is God. Words cannot be found so sweet as to express the sweet affections of the Word and the soul for each other, except bride and Bridegroom. [2]

We seek the Wisdom of the Spirit as we ponder the tension, particularly relevant today between the greed and imperialism of the time of Cinco de Mayo, that continues to resonate today and the Peace beyond understanding that Jesus invites us to present to the world.

References

Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 5, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/14?19 

Cherney, M. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved May 5, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-may-5-2026 

John, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 5, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/14?27 

Meditation on John 14:21-26. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved May 5, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/05/04/1557172/ 

Psalms, PSALM 145 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 5, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/145? 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). My Peace I Give to You. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 5, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Meeting Mourning and Life

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today present times of lament and mourning even as we ponder reanimation during grief as a companion of Jesus.

Love and Life

The Reading from the Second Book of Samuel presents the Death of Absalom and David’s Reaction when Told of Absalom’s Death. (2 Samuel, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 86 is an individual lament.

* [Psalm 86] An individual lament. The psalmist, “poor and oppressed” (Ps 86:1), “devoted” (Ps 86:2), “your servant” (Ps 86:2, 4, 16), “rescued from the depths of Sheol” (Ps 86:13), attacked by the ruthless (Ps 86:14), desires only God’s protection (Ps 86:1–7, 11–17). (Psalms, PSALM 86 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus heals Jairus’s Daughter and the Woman with a Hemorrhage.

* [5:21–43] The story of the raising to life of Jairus’s daughter is divided into two parts: Mk 5:21–24; 5:35–43. Between these two separated parts the account of the cure of the hemorrhage victim (Mk 5:25–34) is interposed. This technique of intercalating or sandwiching one story within another occurs several times in Mk 3:19b–21; Mk 3:22–30; 3:31–35; 6:6b–13; 6:14–29; 6:30; 11:12–14; 11:15–19; 11:20–25; 14:53; 14:54; 14:55–65; 14:66–73.

* [5:23] Lay your hands on her: this act for the purpose of healing is frequent in Mk 6:5; 7:32–35; 8:23–25; 16:18 and is also found in Mt 9:18; Lk 4:40; 13:13; Acts 9:17; 28:8.

* [5:28] Both in the case of Jairus and his daughter (Mk 5:23) and in the case of the hemorrhage victim, the inner conviction that physical contact (Mk 5:30) accompanied by faith in Jesus’ saving power could effect a cure was rewarded.

* [5:35] The faith of Jairus was put to a twofold test: (1) that his daughter might be cured and, now that she had died, (2) that she might be restored to life. His faith contrasts with the lack of faith of the crowd.

* [5:39] Not dead but asleep: the New Testament often refers to death as sleep (Mt 27:52; Jn 11:11; 1 Cor 15:6; 1 Thes 4:13–15); see note on Mt 9:24.

* [5:41] Arise: the Greek verb egeirein is the verb generally used to express resurrection from death (Mk 6:14, 16; Mt 11:5; Lk 7:14) and Jesus’ own resurrection (Mk 16:6; Mt 28:6; Lk 24:6). (Mark, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)

Mirielle Mason comments that this Gospel shows us that God will always meet us where we are.

There is no circumstance too far gone for Him to love us through. He calls us to give Him our troubles so that we can follow His path. Again, I find this difficult, but allow me to share a mental image I have prayed with that I find helpful. I imagine a nasty black mass of goo. It has a mind of its own, and tries to cling to me. This filth is whatever I am trying to lay at the feet of the Lord. I imagine, sometimes over and over, doing just that. I approach the resplendent feet of the Lord and imagine relinquishing my burden. I pray as I do this, that God will help me to let go of my fears, and fill me with His peace.

My prayer for us all this day is that we may be able to relinquish our fears to the Lord, and that He may replace them with His love and peace. (Mason, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “The long-suffering of parents,” by Peter Chrysologus (400-450 AD).

"Let us, if it is pleasing to you, speak for a moment of the pains and anxieties which parents take upon themselves and endure in patience out of love and affection for their children. Here, surrounded by her family and by the sympathy and affection of her relations, a daughter lies upon her bed of suffering. She is fading in body. Her father's mind and spirit are worn with grief. She is suffering the inward pangs of her sickness. He, unwashed, unkempt, is absorbed wholly in sorrow. He suffers and endures before the eyes of the world. She is sinking into the quiet of death... Alas! why are children indifferent to these things! Why are they not mindful of them? Why are they not eager to make a return to their parents for them? But the love of parents goes on nevertheless; and whatever parents bestow upon their children, God, the parent of us all, will duly repay." (excerpt from SERMON 33.2)

[Peter Chrysologus, 400-450 AD, was a renowned preacher and bishop of Ravena in the 5th century] (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 5:21-43 comments that when we come to Jesus with faith and trust, it makes all the difference. Our faith connects us to him in a life-changing way. It enables us to come to him and surrender our own ideas. It helps us bring him our needs with trust in the goodness of his plan.

It moves us to stand before him stripped of our own efforts and solutions, knowing that he alone can make us whole. Then, ready to receive his grace, we can experience his healing and salvation.

“Jesus, I come to you with everything on my heart. But I don’t want to push you to follow my plan. I simply reach out to you and ask you to heal me.” (Meditation on Mark 5:21-43, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that in 2 Samuel the story of how the rebellious son Absalom was killed in the battle “between heaven and earth” is presented. The messengers hear the response of David that his son has been killed “If only I had died rather than you” David shows tremendous love for Absalom. In previous verses in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus executes a nature miracle, and an exorcism of the demoniac. In Mark, the "sandwich” after the synagogue officials initial contact is with the woman suffering with a hemorrhage.  She should not have touched Jesus. In Hebrew practice she was unclean and made Jesus unclean by touching Him. In the other Gospels and in this story Jesus says “your faith has saved you”, Being saved is being healed spiritually and physically. Jesus takes Peter, James and John to the girl and calls her to rise and Jesus takes her dead body to life by touching her. Friar Jude notes that Jesus takes care of her ordinary needs after reanimating the girl and we witness a small healing and a large healing in the Gospel today.

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley who describes God’s vision of shalom, which is the ancient Hebrew vision of communal peace and universal thriving.

God’s will and cosmic design is that no one suffer unjustly, but because human beings create unjust systems, shalom-type social parameters must serve as a social safety net to offset human disobedience. In order to create a shalom system of social harmony, no person could be oppressed for too long without hope of ease and eventual release; no family could remain in poverty for generations; no land could be worked until it was depleted and useless; no animals could go hungry for too long. Any of these violations of shalom that were left unmitigated for too long would upset the natural order of reciprocity fixed in all creation. (Rohr, n.d.)

We implore the Wisdom of the Holy Spirit to meet us in our mourning and desire for understanding and sustain our journey to healing with Jesus' condolence that “Your faith has saved you.”

References

Mark, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 3, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/5?21 

Mason, M. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved February 3, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-february-3-2026 

Meditation on Mark 5:21-43. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved February 3, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/02/02/1492402/ 

Psalms, PSALM 86 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 3, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/86?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved February 3, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/communal-shalom/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Woman Who Took Heart in Jesus. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 3, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

2 Samuel, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 3, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2samuel/18?9