IF we believe in the words of Christ, we certainly would know where to find the true peace, one that will always be effective whatever the situations and conditions of our life are. It’s a peace that comes to us both in good times and in bad times. “Peace I leave with you,” he said. “My peace I give unto you, not as the world gives, do I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid.” (Jn 14,27)

We need to know what exactly is this kind of peace, because as Christ clearly said, it is not one that the world gives, not the one that our own human estimation that is based only on worldly criteria gives.

It is the peace that comes as a result of our following Christ, of our effort to identify ourselves with him. It is a peace that comes as a result of our pursuit for holiness. It therefore is one that would be a result of some struggle or warfare, of our effort to fight against the enemies of God and of our own soul: our weaknesses and temptations that come from our wounded flesh, the world and the devil himself.

Christ is the prince of peace. He knows how to tackle any and all sources and causes of trouble, conflict and war. He meets them head-on, not escaping from them, and in fact converts these causes of evil and war into paths to goodness and human redemption.
He goes straight to the very core of evil, the malice that can spring in the hearts of men, the primal source of all our troubles, conflicts and wars. And he does the ultimate to annul the effects of evil, by assuming them himself, killing them with his own death, and conquering them with his own resurrection. He always has the last word.

When we do our part in our relation with Christ, we are assured of that peace. Christ himself said it clearly that while in this world we will always have trouble, he said that we should not worry since he already has conquered the world. (cfr. Jn 16,33)

We really need to be identified with Christ to have peace in ourselves and in everybody else all over the world. It is a peace that comes as a result of reconciliation. It therefore involves repentance, conversion, struggle, that Christ has shown to us by embracing the cross and dying on it.

The cross of Christ is all at once the summary of all our sins as well as the supreme act of love of Christ for us. It is both the tree of death and the tree of life. It’s where all the malice of man meets the tremendous mercy of God. Christ is asking us to carry the cross also with him. Only then can we have true peace that comes from Christ.

This is the peace that cannot waver even under the severe assaults of trials, difficulties and failures. It is the peace that involves a certain abandonment of everything in our life in the hands of God, even as we do our part of dealing with them.

We have to learn to receive and keep this peace that Christ gives us. We might have to pause from time to time to make this truth of our faith sink deeply in our consciousness and be the guiding principle of our life.

This is the peace that leads us to joy. They actually go together—“gaudium cum pace,” joy with peace, as one prayer in preparation for celebrating the Mass would put it.

This year marks the nearly 25 years since I graduated from the University of the Philippines Tacloban College master’s in management Program. Notable of the sojourn was the fact that I was part of the 15 Scholars of the Civil Service Commission Local Scholarship. Our professors include the great Erasmus of sorts in Prof. Wilfred Barloso, Prof. Anna Arroyo , Prof. Clem Palima, Prof. Arsenito Culaba, Prof. Amy Exconde and the late Prof. Apolinar Lorenzo.

My classmates include Atty. Rupert Golong, Ms, Maritoni Ramento, the late Mano Chito dela Torre, Sir Jorge Modesto, Mam Martha Adelina Vda de Capales, Mr. Raul Caceres and Dean Teofilo Montallana.

Owing to the almost 25 revolutions around the Sun, I am mentioning them, faculty, and classmates. Further , one dead President from the United States his name was Woodrow Wilson , a life well researched by us the Class of 2001 of UPVTC and all, Public Administration disciples.

Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the United States, is often regarded as the Father of Public Administration due to his influential ideas on governance and administration. His most notable dictum regarding public office emphasized the separation of politics and administration, arguing that government should function efficiently and professionally, free from political interference.

One of his famous quotes about public office states: “Every man who takes office in Washington either grows or swells, and when I give a man an office, I watch him carefully to see whether he is swelling or growing.” This reflects his belief that holding public office should be about service and growth, rather than personal gain or corruption
Wilson believed that public administration should be treated as a science, advocating for a merit-based civil service rather than one driven by political patronage. His essay, The Study of Administration (1887), laid the foundation for modern public administration, stressing that government officials should focus on policy implementation rather than political maneuvering.

Wilson had often reminded us that Public Office is a Public Trust, and that Public Officials are mandated to be accountable to the public.

Now Accountability is not the Badil or the Hukip, but proper and trye service. Public Trust is gained by doing what is right, its also upheld by being fair.

Growing” refers to individuals who develop, learn, and improve in office. These officials take on the responsibilities of public service with humility, gaining wisdom, experience, and skills that allow them to contribute meaningfully. Their leadership is marked by positive change and effectiveness.

“Swelling” describes those who become arrogant or self-important upon gaining power. Instead of using their position for public good, they let authority inflate their ego, becoming disconnected from the people they serve. Their leadership may be driven by self-interest rather than service.

We must grow and not swell!