Jesus prepared His disciples to face the future without hiding the ugly reality of troubling forces. "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (v33) Ever in relationship with His Father, Jesus says that He is not alone, because God the Father is with Him. He reiterates this because He predicts that His close disciples will be scattered, each going his own way due to fear. Despite knowing Jesus came from God, they will abandon Him in His hour of need. Knowing is one thing but to experience a threat fearlessly is a test of true peace. Jesus' compassion is not without a tinge of sorrow. Though sorrow is inevitable at the thought of being abandoned, He finds solace in His solitude with the Father. Jesus asserted to them about the peace they should find in Him. They must be consumed by His words that transform lives of the dejected to dignified persons and provoke the arrogant with their hypocrisy.

When I hear these words of Jesus, "take heart!", do I feel some kind of consolation? Jesus hides no troubles, He calls us to be brave, because He has conquered the world. Reading St Paul who was bold in preaching the kingdom of God, do I feel brave to stand for Christ even if it means being ostracised? Is peace also felt because I took Jesus' words to heart?