Jesus Repeated This One Command Twice. Most Men Still Miss It.
The peace Christ gives isn't passive—it is one of the greatest weapons a disciple can carry into the world.
Peace Be With You
It’s a commandment.
As sons of God, Jesus commands us to go and make disciples. To do this, we need to be faith-filled men who manifest His peace in every encounter with others.
In his beautiful Prayer for Peace, St. Francis of Assisi encourages us to receive the gift of peace and accept the challenge to give it away (see the prayer below). To be the men and disciples Jesus calls us to be, He invites us to receive His peace—and protect it.
Jesus Didn’t Just Wish You Peace. He Commanded You to Carry It.
In Matthew 10:7–13, Jesus instructs His apostles to seek out the lost sheep of Israel. When they find someone worthy, they are to say, “Peace to this house.” If that peace is not received, they are to let their peace return to them and move on. It is almost as if peace is a gift entrusted to us—something we can offer freely but not force upon anyone.
Jesus has much to say about peace, and He commands us to have it. He gives His peace to His disciples and to all who honor Him and abide in Him. The world is noisy. Living as a Christian is stressful. Without peace, we struggle to hear God’s promptings, make wise decisions, and flourish as disciples. Men, do we truly draw upon His promise of peace? Could you use more peace?
Why Did Jesus Repeat “Peace Be With You”?
In the Seventh Station of the Resurrection (John 20:19–21), the apostles are anything but peaceful. They are hiding behind locked doors out of fear, just days after the Crucifixion. Verse 19 tells us:
“Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’”
Then, in verse 21, Jesus repeats Himself:
“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so I send you.”
It is important to note that in the Old Testament, shalom (peace) was much more than a greeting. It meant far more than simply “do not be afraid.” Shalom referred to wholeness, well-being, prosperity, contentment, healthy relationships, and right relationship with God. It was the peace that comes from complete trust in Him.
Jesus knew He was sending His disciples out as sheep among wolves. So it is today.
Your Mission Hasn’t Changed
Men, we are called to abide in Christ just as the disciples did. We are sent to lead our families, serve in brotherhood, reach out to others, and be witnesses in our communities. We will experience resistance just as those before us did, and our peace will be tested.
But take courage.
The same Jesus who walked through locked doors still breaks into our lives today. Wherever He enters, He brings peace—peace, peace, peace.
As I studied the Stations of the Resurrection, I found myself stopping to pray about why Jesus intentionally repeats this message of peace. Why does He emphasize it so often?
For the apostles, they were the first wave of evangelizers. The spread of the Kingdom depended upon their faithfulness and effectiveness. Without Christ’s peace, they could never have endured persecution, opposition, spiritual warfare, and the deeply entrenched beliefs they encountered while proclaiming the Gospel.
That sounds a lot like our mission today.
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Shalom Is Still What Jesus Desires for You
Shalom is still what Jesus desires for us.
We face countless challenges that pull us away from peace and into anxiety. Do you commute to work? It is rarely peaceful. Work demands more of our time and energy than ever before, and many workplaces are devoid of any awareness of God. All of this strains the balance between work, family, and our spiritual lives.
If you coach your kids’ teams, serve at church, lead in your community, or invest in other people, you probably find that more and more is asked of your time. Your peace will need protecting.
Guard it.
God’s plan has always been for His people to live in peace. The prophet Zechariah proclaimed:
“He shall command peace to the nations.” (Zechariah 9:10)
Jesus also invites us:
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
As we build God’s Kingdom, we are certain to get roughed up along the way. Maintaining a peace-filled disposition is essential. Since it is always the Holy Spirit working through us, a heart anchored in peace allows God to use us more fully.
Where Have You Experienced God’s Peace?
Can you look back and recognize moments when you experienced God’s peace?
There are many ways He gives it. I have often written that we are made for brotherhood, and last month I experienced that truth in a powerful way.
I joined nearly 80 men’s ministry leaders at the Heroic Men Convocation in Dallas. Despite the hassles of travel, a college dorm mattress, the Texas heat, and a packed schedule, God’s presence and peace were unmistakable throughout the weekend. Time seemed to fly by, and the fruits of those few days continue to emerge.
As Psalm 133:1 reminds us:
“How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity.”
There is something deeply anointed about gathering with faithful brothers in Christ.
A Few Questions to Pray With
What undermines your peace?
Can you name it and surrender it to the Lord?
Can you build or join a trusted group of faithful men who will walk with you, pray with you, and encourage you as disciples?
Peace be with you.
Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi (Prayer for Peace)
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Prayer Request on Motorcycle Ride
From July 30 to August 18, a segment of our team will traverse thousands of miles on motorcycles through Western Canada and the western United States. We would be grateful to carry your prayer intentions with us.
Please send us your requests, and we will lift them in daily Mass with Bishop Scott McCaig and Fr. Mariusz, praying rosaries as we ride along the open road.
