"Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace..."

As we know far too well, our world, our lives, our hearts and our souls are crying out for peace.  In these days of the Christmas season, the possibility of peace is closer than ever as we hear the angels announcing peace to the shepherds, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests" (Luke 2:14).  The babe of Bethlehem, our Savior, brings the hope of peace and the promise of salvation.


"Blessed are the Peacemakers" is the title chosen by the Holy Father for his Message for the World Day of Peace, celebrated January 1.  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells the people, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" (Matthew 5:9).  "...Jesus tells them that not only in the next life, but already in this life, they will discover that they are children of God, and that God has always been, and every will be, completely on their side.  They will understand that they are not alone, because He is on the side of those committed to truth, justice and love" (Pope's Message, 2).  Peace is both "God's gift and the fruit of human effort...[it] concerns the human person as a whole, and it involves complete commitment.  It is peace with God through a life lived according to His will.  It is interior peace with oneself, and exterior peace with our neighbours and all creation" (Pope's Message, 3).


True peace is being in right relationship with God.  The world and our country are desperately in need of encountering God and of being transformed by this relationship.  This is the mission of the New Evangelization, a new proclamation of Jesus, our peace.  The pope says that "Religious communities are involved in a special way in this immense task of education for peace.  The Church believes that she shares in this great responsibility as part of the new evangelisation, which is centered on conversion to the truth and love of Christ and, consequently, the spiritual and moral rebirth of individuals and societies.  Encountering Jesus Christ shapes peacemakers, committing them to fellowship and to overcoming injustice" (Pope's Message, 6).


As the words of a prayer popularly attributed to St. Francis say, let us pray for "God to make us instruments of His peace, to be able to bring His love wherever there is hatred, His mercy wherever there is hurt, and true faith wherever there is doubt" (Pope's Message, 7).  Let us cultivate peace within ourselves, and be peace in our relationships, our families, our societies and our world.


"May the Lord give strength to His people; may the Lord bless His people  with peace" (Psalm 29).

Written by Kristen