Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Tuesday of the fifth week of Easter, May 5th, 2026

Delivered by Monika Kimmy from the Parish of Good Shepherd in the Diocese of Surabaya, Indonesia. Acts of the Apostles 14: 19-28; Rs psalm 145: 10-11.12-13ab.21; John 14: 27-31a.PEACE IS OUR WEAPON The theme for our meditation today is: Peace Is OurWeapon. Jesus Christ had experienced onearth the various forms of human suffering as a consequence of sin and evil ofthis world. To face all these, He did not fight back with His divine authoritywhich was of course more powerful, instead He accepted them with calm, and Heforgave and prayed for those who opposed and persecuted Him. He fought this world power with peace as the weaponthat He got from His divine power. His followers, those from His own family ofNazareth, the apostles and people of every generation, are prepared in such away to be able to experience all forms suffering that He Himself had alreadyexperienced. The apostles proved that they were ready to face all kinds ofsuffering and they had no fear at all, because the weapon of peace was far morepowerful than any other weapons. Paul and Barnabas did the same thing when theybuilt and strengthened the existence of the Church from one place to another. The Church and the followers of Christ in all placesand times now also realize that what Jesus had said before is proved true,namely the cup of suffering He had drunk, is also drunk by His followers. Thesame weapon of peace is still useful, and the famous phrase always recited bythe celebrant priest in the Holy Mass confirms the efficacy of thisweapon, as it goes "Peace I leavewith you, my peace I give you." Jesus Christ gives us His own peace as the powerfulweapon that we should use, and the best moment to use it is when we are underpressure, danger and threat of any form. Jesus had prepared us with thisstrategy. He already knew what would happen to each of His followers who willundergo various difficulties and sufferings. Even though Christians show kindness in their testimonyof faith and bring truth in their words and deeds, all are manifested on behalf of Jesus' name,they will still face kinds of rejection and opposition. The reason for this isbecause Jesus's love and truth are very much in conflict with the culture andstyle of people of this world that have been infected by sin and evil. ButJesus and His followers do not give up and fear. The cross must indeed be takenup and not condemned or thrown away. After bearing the cross we will achievevictory. There is resurrection and new life. So, we must be grateful and full of hope because JesusChrist already prepared us to face the worst situation in the world, as Heequipped us with the weapon of peace from Himself. Imagine if he armed us withswords or guns, it could be happened that our profile as Christians today mightbe the worst in the world. The peace of Jesus is actually very useful forwinning souls for God. This is where the real victory to be our reward. Let'spray. In the name of the Father ... Lord Jesus Christ, fill us and Your Churchwith your own peace, because with this peace we are secure and safe in Yourhands. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit ... In thename of the Father ...