When Jesus appeared to His followers in the Upper Room (Cf., Luke 24:35-48) the first words He spoke to them were, “Peace be with you.” This is more than a generic greeting. At the Last Supper Jesus told the Apostles: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled; be not afraid” (John 14:27). This raises an obvious question: What is “the peace of Christ?”
“The peace of Christ” refers to the inner peace and harmony that comes from a deep relationship with our Lord. It is a peace that surpasses worldly understanding and is rooted in the presence of God’s grace and His love in your life. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says: “the peace of Christ is the fullness of the messianic blessings meant for all men” (CCC 2304). This peace is a gift from God, bestowed upon all those who seek Him and strive to live according to His will.
So, the peace of Christ is not like “peace as the world gives it,” which is merely the temporary absence of conflict or mere external tranquility. But rather a lasting inner state of serenity, trust, and reconciliation with God. It is a peace that transcends the difficulties and challenges of life and provides us solace and strength in the very midst of our trials. As someone once said, “Faith is not about everything turning out okay, faith is about being okay no matter how things turn out.”
Before His Ascension to the Father, Jesus again offered His peace to His disciples: “I have told you this so that in me you may [have] peace. In the world you will endure suffering. But take courage! I have overcome the world” (John 16.33). This peace promised to the disciples is a result of the presence of the Holy Spirit that will come into their hearts at Pentecost and, consequently, into the hearts of all Catholic believers of all times, guiding and comforting them.
The peace of Christ is experienced through a new life of faith, prayer, and union with God. It is given in Baptism and then nurtured through the reception of the other sacraments, particularly the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist, which bring about forgiveness, healing, and communion with God and our neighbor.
But enjoying the benefits of that grace (i.e., living in the peace of Christ) involves surrendering your worries, fears, and anxieties to God, trusting in His providence and care. As it says in 1 Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.” Experiencing the peace of Christ involves cultivating virtues which contribute to inner peace and harmonious relationships with others, such as patience, humility, forgiveness, and charity (love). Ultimately, the peace of Christ is a foretaste in this life of the eternal peace and joy that awaits the faithful in heaven. There (if we cooperate with His grace now), we will experience eternal communion with God and the fullness of His peace.
So, the inner serenity, harmony, and reconciliation with God that comes from a deep relationship with Our Lord Jesus is a divine gift, experienced through faith, prayer, and a life lived in accordance with His will. A peace that provides solace, strength, and hope in the midst of life’s challenges. A peace that surpasses worldly understanding. That’s the peace of Christ. And that’s no nonsense.