This Sunday we again meet the risen Christ. We see how his disciples react with surprise and fear when he suddenly appears among them, and we hear his reassuring “Peace be with you.” He doesn’t want them to be troubled, especially by his presence among them. He also calls them to be witnesses. This experience is not just about them; they are to be witnesses for the whole world.

In so many of these resurrection accounts, the first thing Christ does is to offer peace. I wonder if, after everything they’ve been through, it’s challenging for the disciples to receive that peace and feel a sense of calm. And what about us? Christ’s peace is not limited to that community. How do we receive Christ’s peace? And as Christ’s body, how do we offer that peace to others?

Can you get in touch with a time when you weren’t feeling particularly peaceful? I can – maybe all too easily! This past fall was very stressful for me. I had had a busy summer full of travel and meetings, and then I came home to news that my landlord was selling the house we were renting. I had to figure out new living arrangements, and then I packed up and moved. I’m not sure what stress is like for you, but when I’m stressed, I feel tension in my shoulders, my thoughts race, and I don’t sleep well. I also get distracted, and my inattention causes me to do dumb things. During the time when I was moving, I accidentally stuck my hand into a ceiling fan, I got a wasp sting that turned into cellulitis in that same hand, and I fell down the steps and sprained my ankle. Yep. Stress.

The thing is, though, even if it feels uncomfortable, stress is a normal response to daunting things. We’ll resolve some of those stressors, but some challenges are ongoing, and we simply have to find ways to cope. Also, besides our own personal stress, we’re living with the backdrop of a stressful world. When there’s war and violence going on somewhere in the world, it’s hard to feel peace in my heart. When there’s injustice, and adults and children are facing bigotry and racism and transphobia every day, it’s hard to sit in my privilege and feel peaceful.

As I think about it, maybe feeling tranquility at every moment of every day is unrealistic, and maybe that’s not really the goal. Again, stress is a normal response to our challenges. Also, as compassionate people, it’s normal to feel distressed or dismayed by other people’s struggles. We just can’t allow ourselves to be flattened by them. There’s a difference between stress and anxiety. Stress is a fear reaction to a specific situation or challenge. Anxiety, though, is a fear response that happens when there’s no specific threat. It’s more existential than concrete. I’m not a psychologist, but that’s how I understand and experience the difference.   

So then, in our Gospel reading, Christ offers peace because he doesn’t want his disciples to be troubled. They probably are stressed by the events that have unfolded, but they need not be anxious. Having a little stress could be a good thing — It could move them out of that locked room and into the world to be the witnesses they’re called to be. Troubled hearts, though, anxiety, could paralyze them and make it impossible to act. And Christ wants them to act.

Maybe the same is true for us. Truth be told, tranquility does not move me to action. Disillusionment, anger, and stress move me to action. A desire for peace moves me to action too. If I’m too troubled, though, I can freeze instead of act. Living in anxiety and overwhelm is not God’s call, but allowing our stress to move us to action, well, that might have God’s call in it.

How do we find that sweet spot of peace in which we’re not paralyzed by anxiety, but we’re not lulled into indifference either? When we’re calm enough to cope, but also moved to act when we’re called to? I may not be the best person to answer this — after all, I literally fall down when I’m stressed. On the other hand, I do negotiate stress and anxiety fairly often, so I’ve learned a few things. And I’m guessing that we all know these things — we just have to do them.

We know that prayer helps. When we sit before God and pour out our hearts, or even sit in a silent, listening stance, we can sometimes feel a sense of peace. We do not have to carry the burdens of the world ourselves. We. Do. Not. Have. To. Carry. The. Burdens. Of. The. World. Ourselves. Prayer helps me to know that God is carrying things with me, and it also helps me to get in touch with myself enough to notice what burdens I’m carrying at any given time. Also, sitting in God’s peace can help me to recognize feelings of discontent or dismay or stress, and that can help me to know when God is calling me to act in some way. So, prayer brings me, and you, to self-awareness and opens us to God’s love and care and call.

Also, we have got to reach out to each other. We’re in a pandemic of loneliness, and that can tip people from stress into anxiety. Simply reaching out can go a long way toward alleviating our own suffering and others’ suffering too. It actually just takes eight minutes. Ask Simon Sinek, who says that all it takes is regular eight-minute catch ups to help with loneliness, depression, and anxiety. Personally, I’d rather linger longer with a friend. I had a ninety minute catch up this past week, and I can tell you that I slept so well that night. The gift of peace is meant to be shared through real interactions. We can’t do that on social media. We really have to have real conversations like real people. That’s how we share the peace of Christ.

(All this said, it’s really important to acknowledge that if you’re experiencing chronic or intense anxiety and/or depression or thoughts of suicide or any other prolonged mental health challenges, you’re not going to be able to pray that away. Yes, pray, yes, talk to a loved one, but also seek out some help from a professional who knows how to help you. God has blessed us with knowledge and resources, and we’re called to use them when we need them. And if you have a friend or loved one who’s suffering, a loving thing to do is to connect them with resources. I’ll put some links to some resources below.*)

Finding peace in a troubled world is a serious challenge. However, Christ does not want us to be troubled. Christ offers us peace and shows us what we need to receive that peace – God’s loving Providence and each other. Christ also calls us to be witnesses in the world. As we open ourselves to God’s peace, we are witnesses. As we care for each other, we are witnesses. So, peace be with you. May our hearts not be troubled. May we allow our stress move us to action, and by our witness, may we breathe peace into the world.

For Reflection:

• Can you think of a time when you felt stressed or overwhelmed? What was that like? How was God with you?

• Can you think of a time when you felt peaceful, when you felt God’s presence with you? What brought that about? How was God with you?

• What there ever a time when your stress or discontent moved you toward action? How did you know God was calling you to act? What happened as a result?

• And maybe you could take a few moments to sit in God’s peace and see what emerges in your heart.

*The substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association Hotline can be found here: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service), or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. Also visit the online treatment locator, or send your zip code via text message: 435748 (HELP4U) to find help near you. Read more about the HELP4U text messaging service.

Sister Leslie Keener, CDP

Sister Leslie Keener, CDP is the director of God Space, a community-building spirituality ministry in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. She’s a Sister of Divine Providence with a Masters in Ministry and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction and Retreats from Creighton University. She directs retreats, meets with people for spiritual direction, and serves as the vocation director for her community. She also serves on the Coordinating Council of Spiritual Directors International. She enjoys music, dancing, meaningful conversations, and catching up with friends.