I'm struck by another quote from the writings of Fr Ron Rolheiser quoting Fr Henri Nouwen,

"there is a quality of sadness that pervades all the moments of our life so that even in our most happy moments there is something missing.

In every satisfaction there is an awareness of limitation.
In every success there is fear of jealousy.
In every friendship there is distance.
In every embrace there is loneliness.
In this life there is not such a thing as a clear-cut, pure joy.
Every bit of life is touched by a bit of death.
The world can give us peace, except it never does this perfectly."

It is the absolute assurance the we are connected to the source of life in such a way that nothing, absolutely nothing, can ever sever - not bad health, not betrayal by someone, indeed, not even our own sin. We are unconditionally loved and held by the source of life itself and nothing can change that. Nothing can change God's unconditional love for us.

Jesus' peace that He leaves us cannot be taken away. It's a peace that the world cannot give. Beyond doubt, beyond our hopelessness, beyond pain and beyond death, His peace surrounds us and we are assured that our lives are in His good hands... Nothing can change that... What a hopeful life we live because we have a good God who gives us hope and life.