19 August, Tuesday — The Lord is Peace

Tuesday of Week 20 in Ordinary Time

Jgs 6:11-24
Mt 19:23-30

“Peace be with you; have no fear…”

In the Old Testament, people often feared encountering God directly. In His presence, the awareness of His overwhelming holiness, coupled with their own human sinfulness, created a natural sense of dread. The belief that a direct encounter with God could lead to judgment — and even death — was deeply rooted in their understanding of His justice.

That is why, in today’s first reading, the angel of the Lord’s words to Gideon were so reassuring: “Peace be with you; have no fear; you will not die.” They were not just a greeting, but a promise — God’s peace was with him, and his life was safe in God’s hands.

Similarly, the risen Jesus often greeted His disciples with “Peace be with you.” These weren’t mere pleasantries; they were divine assurances that His peace remained with them despite their failures and fears.

While the phrase “have no fear” (and variations like “do not be afraid”) appears 365 times in the Bible — one reassurance for every day of the year — the word “peace” appears even more, over 400 times. That’s how deeply God desires that we live in His peace. But what is this peace that He wants to give us?

For much of my life, peace wasn’t something I thought much about. Living in Singapore — a nation blessed with political stability, racial harmony, and personal safety — external peace seemed a given. I was also surrounded by a loving family with minimal conflict; so I took peace for granted, at least in its outward form.

Interior peace, on the other hand, felt vague — something I associated with ‘new age meditation stuff’. After all, wasn’t stress, anxiety, and sleeplessness simply part of life in the fast lane? So I prayed more for joy and love — the seemingly more ‘tangible’ gifts — than for peace.

I didn’t realise how essential inner peace was until I lost it at a previous workplace. Beyond personal conflicts and office politics, there was a deeper unrest that seeped into my soul. Anxiety grew, and each workday became an internal battle. Without peace, I also lost hope and joy, and soon I found it harder to love and care for the people around me. I became easily irritable and short-tempered with my loved ones, and nothing could lift my spirits — not even indulging in my favourite pastimes. Eventually, I left that job — but it took a long time before peace returned to my heart.

How did I regain this peace? At first, I thought it was simply by removing myself from the situation; but it was much more than that. I realised that in my personal struggle, I had not allowed myself to lean fully on God. To receive His peace, I had to deepen my trust in the Lord — spending more time in prayer, reading scripture, and spending quiet moments with Him. As trust grew, fear and anxiety gradually lost their grip.

I’ve learned that the peace He offers is not tied to circumstances. It is a deep tranquility of spirit that flows from a close relationship with Him. And I have come to see that peace is the foundation for all other gifts the Lord wants to give me — joy, love, and hope.

Whenever the greeting “Peace be with you” is used, I used to think it simply meant, “I hope we don’t have conflicts with each other.” Now, I see it differently. When I say, “Peace be with you,” I’m praying that the other person experiences the deep tranquility that only the Lord can give — a peace rooted in faith and trust in Him. Just as Gideon was assured that God’s peace was with him, we too can rest in that same promise today.

Brothers and sisters, the Lord Himself is our peace. May His peace be with you — always.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Esther Leet)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, may Your peace — the peace that surpasses all understanding and drives out fear — be with us always, and guard our hearts and minds in You. Amen.

Thanksgiving: Thank You, Lord, for the gift of a peace that cannot be shaken by circumstances. Help us to carry this peace in our daily lives and share it with those who long for Your comfort. Amen.