The following talk was given by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., Feb. 25 for a Lenten Soup and Scripture gathering with several Northern Burlington County parishes.
Today, I want to reflect with you on a gift that every human heart longs for, especially in the later seasons of life: peace.
Not the fragile peace the world offers, which depends on circumstances, health, finances or the behavior of others. I mean the deep, steady, unshakable peace that Christ promises – the peace that “the world cannot give.”
Lent is the perfect time to rediscover that peace.
Peace begins in the heart
In Scripture, peace is never just the absence of conflict. It is the presence of God. When Jesus appears to his disciples after the Resurrection, his first words are not instructions or warnings. They are simply:
“Peace be with you.”
He speaks it as a gift – a gift that flows from his very presence.
One of my favorite lines from the writings attributed to Pope Leo XIV says:
“Peace is not the silence of life’s storms, but the certainty that Christ stands in the boat with you.”
Isn’t that beautiful? Many of you have weathered storms – illness, loss, family struggles, the aches and uncertainties of aging. Yet you are still here, still faithful, still praying. That is the peace of Christ at work.
Peace grows through mercy
Lent invites us to look honestly at our lives – not to shame us, but to free us.
Peace cannot take root in a heart cluttered with old resentments, regrets or unspoken hurts.
Pope Leo XIV has written: “The soul that forgives becomes light enough for God to carry.”
Forgiveness is not easy, especially when wounds go back decades. But forgiveness is not about pretending nothing happened. It is about letting God lift the burden so your heart can breathe again.
Some of the most peaceful people I know are older Catholics who have learned, slowly and painfully, to let go. They have discovered that peace is not something you chase — it is something you allow.
Peace is strength, not weakness
Our culture often treats peace as passive, as if peaceful people are simply quiet or timid. But the Gospel shows us that peace is a form of courage.
Jesus was at peace even when facing the Cross.
Mary was at peace even when she did not understand God’s plan.
The saints were at peace even when the world opposed them.
Pope Leo XIV captured this beautifully: “The Christian who lives in peace becomes a lighthouse; storms may rage, but the light does not flicker.”
My friends, your witness matters. Your calm presence, your steady faith, your years of prayer – these are lighthouses for younger generations who often feel overwhelmed by noise, speed, and anxiety.
You show them that peace is possible.
Peace is something we share
Peace is never meant to be kept to ourselves. Every smile, every patient word, every act of kindness is a seed of peace planted in someone else’s life.
In your parishes, many of you are the ones who welcome newcomers, pray for the sick, comfort the grieving and encourage the discouraged. You are peacemakers in the most Christlike sense.
And Jesus tells us: “Blessed are the peacemakers.”
Not the peacewishers.
Not the peaceobservers.
The peacemakers.
Even a gentle presence can change the atmosphere of a room. Even a short prayer can soften a hardened heart. Even a simple bowl of soup shared with love can be a sacrament of peace.
Peace leads us toward eternal life
As we grow older, our perspective changes. We begin to see life with clearer eyes. We understand what matters and what does not. And we begin to long for the peace that only God can give – the peace of eternal rest. But eternal peace begins now.
Every moment of trust, every act of mercy, every quiet surrender to God prepares our hearts for the fullness of peace in his Kingdom.
Pope Leo XIV expressed it this way: “Heaven is the flowering of every small act of peace we planted on earth.”
What a hopeful thought. Nothing is wasted. Every prayer, every kindness, every sacrifice becomes part of the eternal garden God is preparing for you.
My dear friends, you are a blessing to your parish. Your faith, your stories, your perseverance, your humor, your wisdom – all of it enriches the Body of Christ.
As we continue through Lent, I invite you to pray each day: “Lord, make my heart a place where your peace can abide.”
If you pray that sincerely, God will do the rest. May Christ, the Prince of Peace, fill your hearts today and always.
Amen.