Finding Peace in Following Jesus
In this beautiful passage from John's Gospel, Jesus gives us what might be the most practical love advice ever spoken: "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching." It sounds almost too simple, doesn't it? Yet here lies the heart of Christian discipleship - not in grand gestures or perfect understanding, but in the daily choice to align our lives with Christ's words. Jesus isn't asking us to solve theological mysteries or perform miracles; He's inviting us into a relationship where love naturally flows into action. When we truly love someone, we want to make them happy, to honor what matters to them. Following Jesus begins with this same tender impulse - a heart that says "yes" to His way of living because we've fallen in love with His way of loving.
The promise that follows is breathtaking: "My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them." Imagine that - the Trinity taking up residence in your ordinary Tuesday morning, in your frustrating commute, in your family dinner conversations. This isn't about becoming a mystic or a saint (though who knows where God might lead!); it's about recognizing that God desires to be part of your actual life, right where you are. The Catholic understanding of grace teaches us that God's presence transforms the mundane into the sacred. Your kitchen table becomes an altar, your workplace a mission field, your relationships a school of holiness. Following Jesus means believing that He actually wants to share life with you, not just observe it from a distance.
Jesus then offers something our anxious world desperately needs: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you." Notice He doesn't promise the absence of problems or the elimination of stress. Instead, He offers His own peace - the kind that held Him steady through storms, betrayal, and even crucifixion. This peace isn't a feeling we manufacture through positive thinking; it's a gift we receive through relationship with Christ. When we follow Jesus, we discover that His peace has a different quality than worldly calm. It's the peace of knowing you're loved unconditionally, of trusting that God's plan is good even when you can't see how, of finding rest in His presence even when life feels chaotic. This peace becomes our gift to others, a quiet testimony that there's something different about a life rooted in Christ.
The passage beautifully balances comfort with challenge. Jesus acknowledges that following Him involves letting go - "Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" - but He also promises that the Holy Spirit will teach us and remind us of everything He has said. This is the genius of Catholic discipleship: we're not left to figure it out alone. The Church, the sacraments, Scripture, and the community of believers all become instruments through which the Spirit continues to guide and form us. Following Jesus isn't a solo adventure but a family journey. When we stumble (and we will), the Spirit picks us up. When we forget (and we do), the Spirit reminds us. When we feel overwhelmed by the call to discipleship, the Spirit whispers that grace is sufficient and love makes all things possible.
Perhaps the most beautiful part of following Jesus is that it's not really about becoming someone else - it's about becoming who you were always meant to be. Jesus sees past our fears, our failures, and our inconsistencies to the beloved child God created you to be. Following Him means saying yes to that transformation, one ordinary day at a time. It means choosing kindness when you'd rather be sharp, choosing forgiveness when you'd rather hold a grudge, choosing hope when despair feels more realistic. But here's the secret: you don't have to do it perfectly, and you don't have to do it alone. Jesus has already won the victory; we simply get to participate in it. So come as you are, with all your questions and quirks and imperfections. The invitation is real, the peace is available, and the love that transforms everything is waiting for your simple "yes."
©2025 James Dacey Jr.
