Fathers

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What the Fathers say

John 14:27

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: He says this to console His disciples, who were now troubled at the prospect of the hatred and opposition which awaited them after His departure. (Hom. lxxv. 3) External peace is often even hurtful, rather than profitable to those who enjoy it. (Hom. lxxv. 3) After saying, Peace I leave with you, which was like taking farewell, He consoles them: Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid: the two feelings of love and fear were now the uppermost in them.

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Cyril of Alexandria

Herein when He reminds His holy Apostles of His ascension into heaven, and prepares them for the knowledge that they will be left thereby alone by the saying: These things have I spoken unto you while yet abiding with you, He was stricken at heart by the knowledge, being as He was by nature God, that the saying gave them no small alarm, and put them into great fear and trembling, and by laying a burden of grief upon them had stirred the mind of each to its depths. …

Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 10 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

The Apostles again felt sorrow when they heard the Lord's words "I am going away, and the Spirit will come." Therefore, seeing their hearts in turmoil, and especially because of the sorrows and tribulations awaiting them, He says: "Peace I leave with you," speaking to them as if to say: "What harm can the world's upheavals do to you, so long as you are at peace with Me? For My peace is not such as the world's peace. …

Commentary on John ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

"Peace," He said, "I leave with you, my peace I give unto you." It is here we read in the prophet, "Peace upon peace:" peace He leaves with us when going away, His own peace He will give us when He cometh in the end. Peace He leaveth with us in this world, His own peace He will give us in the world to come. His own peace He leaveth with us, and abiding therein we conquer the enemy. His own peace He will give us when, with no more enemies to fight, we shall reign as kings. …

Tractates on John 77 ↗

Ambrose of Milan

For it belongs to the perfect not to be easily moved by worldly matters, not to be disturbed by fear, not to be agitated by suspicion, not to be shaken by terror, not to be harassed by sorrow: but rather, to calm the unchanging mind, like a safe seashore against the rising waves of worldly storms, with steadfast faith and unwavering devotion. This firmament, Christ introduced into the minds of Christians, bringing internal peace to the souls of the righteous; so that our heart is not troubled, nor our mind disturbed. …

On Jacob and the Blessed Life, Book 2, Chapter 6 ↗

Gregory the Dialogist

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Here "I leave," there "I give." I leave to those who follow, I give to those who arrive.

Forty Gospel Homilies, Homily 30 ↗