Peace In Troubled Times
January 14, 2026
Fr. John Riccardo
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth, to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy, with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:1-3).
Perhaps like you, I’m more often than not reading and praying with the Scriptures against the backdrop of all that’s going on in the world. In other words, as I sit down with God’s Word, I’m looking for Him to speak into my mind and heart some message of truth, comfort, hope and encouragement in light of the news that otherwise comes my way. Something seems right about that, I think. Paul, after all, isn’t writing to people living in la-la land. He’s speaking to real men and women living in concrete situations that are remarkably similar to ours in many ways. His is a world of unrest and turmoil, political intrigue, riots, protests, executions, hyper-sexualization and more. On top of that, within the small Christian community in Corinth, Paul is dealing with factions, poorly celebrated liturgies, and scandalous behavior. On one hand, it’s kind of depressing to know that the Church has never lived in some ideal age. On the other hand, it’s kind of encouraging. Truly, in every age there are trials and struggles.
And so as I pray with this short passage and arrive at that final sentence I’m seeking to ever more fully understand what Paul is saying to us — what God is saying to us, rather, through Paul. That last sentence is hardly some throwaway line, nor is it simply some standard way of writing the introduction of a letter, as is often thought. There’s nothing “standard” or throwaway in God’s revelation to us.
“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Let’s read this against the backdrop of all that’s happening in our country, world, and Church today: demonstrations and riots on many of our city streets again, unrest in Venezuela, Iran “gone dark,” struggles in our parish communities and dioceses, and the daily, ongoing struggles and concerns we face in our personal and family lives.
As I sit with this greeting — a greeting Paul actually coined — I am brought back to Jesus’ words shortly before He entered into His passion: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). The world “gives peace” by eliminating conflict. How’s that working out? It turns out, the world will never be free of conflict, at least not until the rightful King returns and makes it all new. Nor will my heart and mind be free of conflict, come to think of it. But Jesus’ peace is not like that. Instead, His peace comes in the middle of conflict, or despite conflict, we might say.
In other words, the peace God and God alone can give and does give is able to calm our hearts and minds even when things all around us are on fire, whether literally or figuratively. The peace of Jesus can reign in us regardless of whether or not the circumstances of life or up or down.
How is this possible?! Because the Holy Spirit who dwells in us is able to calm our fears and anxieties and worries by showing us who God is, what He’s done, and what He has promised He will yet do. The Spirit reminds us that all things — all things — work for good for those who love God, even the ones that seem to make no sense (cf. Rom 8:28). The Spirit reminds us that we are, this world is, firmly in the hands of a good God, who has proven His love for us by becoming one of us, laying down His life for us, and defeating the powers of Sin and Death by His own death and glorious resurrection. He has not abandoned us. So be still, and understand that He is God, there is no other. He has no rival, is not nervous or afraid right now, and knows what He’s about.
Lord Jesus, give to us, we pray, the gift You promised! Give to us the gift of Your peace that passes all understanding (cf. Phil 4:7).
ACTS XXIX Prayer Intentions
January 2026
For our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV and his intentions, that he may be for God’s people a visible source and foundation of unity of faith and communion.
For our mission in the Diocese of Reno, that God would bless our time with the priests with every grace and blessing He knows to be most needed.
For our mission with the Diocese of Orange, that our time with the presbyterate would be a source of refreshment and the renewal of our minds and hearts.
For those traveling from across the country to join us in a Leadership Immersive, that God would give us His heart and mind so as to rescue, renew and transform the human family into the family of God.
For all those going through The Rescue Project, that they would be overwhelmed by the gospel, surrender their lives to Jesus and be mobilized for mission.
For the planning of The Jesus Conference: Mobilizing the Church for the World He Loves, that the Holy Spirit would lead, direct, and inspire every decision, so that this gathering may become a catalyst for renewal and transformation.
For our Episcopal Advisory Council, Board of Directors, and faithful partners in mission, that God would bless them with an outpouring of His love, reminding them of their part in helping get God’s world back.
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