Fr Paul Gooley reads from the Gospel of John (14: 27-31) in which Jesus says, ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give. This is my gift to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid’.

This reading starts with Jesus’ greeting of ‘Peace’. Fr Paul says this was the common greeting in Judaism and it is still widely used today. But here it is specified by Jesus as ‘my peace’.

By association this common greeting acquires a special meaning in Christianity from its use here, from its solemn use by the Risen Christ when he comes to his own people as they cower in the upper room, and from its use by Paul at the beginning of all his letters – even Galatians.

It is lifted even higher through its use by the angels of the Nativity.

Christ’s peace denotes more than an absence of war. It must be a true peace of generosity and justice, for all to be at peace in themselves with a clear conscience and with others in friendship, hearts untroubled and unafraid.

Fr Paul invites us to reflect on today’s Gospel Lesson – Let the peace of Christ be with us always.