Tag Archives: peace

God’s in charge

John Everett Millais (1829-1896) Illustration of the Parable of the Unjust Judge from the New Testament Gospel of Luke (Luke 18:1-9) for The Parables of Our Lord (1863)

John Everett Millais (1829-1896)
Illustration of the Parable of the Unjust Judge from the New Testament Gospel of Luke (Luke 18:1-9) for The Parables of Our Lord (1863)

Do I have faith that God is in charge? That God has a vision of peace and love for the whole world? Do I have faith that when I practice kindness, forgiveness, respect, compassion, and nonviolence I am contributing to God’s vision?

If my faith is wavering, I need to be persistent in prayer, confiding my worries and fears and weaknesses to God and listening for God’s response.

[Jesus said,] “But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Luke 18:8b

 

One

Dibujo de Jesucristo, en acuarela. Parque de la Exposición. Lima, Perú.By Dtarazona (Own work) [GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons

Dibujo de Jesucristo, en acuarela. Parque de la Exposición. Lima, Perú.
By Dtarazona (Own work) [GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons

One in our intention to love our neighbor as ourselves. One in our desire to do unto others as we would have others do unto us. One in our commitment to the way of love, nonviolence, forgiveness, respect, healing, reconciliation, and peace.

Today I will honor the One in each and every member of our human family.

[Jesus prayed, saying,] “And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one.” John 17:22-23a

A holy reminder

6º DOMINGO DE PASCUAI do my best to keep the word of Jesus: to love my neighbor, pray for my enemies, feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, comfort the ill, welcome those I don’t know, forgive those who hurt me.

And when I forget, the Holy Spirit nudges me—a gentle tug at my heart, maybe, or it could be a spotlight shining on my selfishness. The Holy Spirit’s nudges show me the way to holy wholeness where I become a collaborator in the community of Love.

[Jesus said to his disciples:] “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” John 14:26

Whose voice

buen_pastor_20How do I discern the voice of Jesus when I am surrounded by a cacophony of voices?

Here’s how: The voice of Jesus  prompts me to love, forgive, let go, help out, be generous. The voice of Jesus calls me to peace, nonviolence, reconciliation, compassion. The voice of Jesus comforts, heals, reassures, encourages.

May I listen to the voice of Jesus. May my voice echo his.

Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice;
I know them, and they follow me.”  John 10:27

Hope in the Way

Rembrandt (1606-1669) Christ Resurrected Oil on canvas, 1661 Munich, Alte Pinakothek

Rembrandt (1606-1669)
Christ Resurrected
Oil on canvas, 1661
Munich, Alte Pinakothek

Like Mary, I am going in search of Jesus. The path is sometimes dark with pain and sorrow, uncertainty and discouragement, suffering and anxiety. What I bring with me—hope, love, faith, compassion, kindness, respect, forgiveness, peace—is what I am searching for. I follow the way, even in darkness, to find the Way.

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. John 20:1

 

Never too late to bloom

James Tissot (1836-1902) Le vigneron et le figuier opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, between 1886 and 1894 Brooklyn Museum

James Tissot (1836-1902)
Le vigneron et le figuier
opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, between 1886 and 1894
Brooklyn Museum

Rooting ourselves in prayer, meditation on God’s Word, and conscious awareness of God’s presence in each moment and in all of creation, we allow God, the Master Gardener, to cultivate our hearts and minds to bear the fruits of peace, joy, forgiveness, compassion, justice, acceptance, and love.

[Jesus told them this parable:] “[The gardener] said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’” Luke 13:8-9

 

 

At any moment

Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov (1806-1858) Head of St. John the Baptist oil on paper mounted on canvas, 1837-1857 Tretyakov Gallery

Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov (1806-1858)
Head of St. John the Baptist
oil on paper mounted on canvas, 1837-1857
Tretyakov Gallery

At any point in our temporal history, the Word of God may come to us and lead us to become prophetic witnesses to the presence of God in our midst.

The Word of God may call us to speak out against prejudice, greed, and violence, and point the way to acceptance, generosity, and peace.

The Word of God may show us how to let go of resentment, self-centeredness, and arrogance, and teach us the way of forgiveness, service to those in need, and humble awareness of our dependence on God.

The Word of God may clarify our purpose in life: to love God, ourselves, and our neighbors, to bring comfort to the afflicted, to use our gifts and talents in the service of God’s whole human family.

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar… during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. Luke 3:1, 2

Like a child

Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1472-1553 Christ Blessing the Children oil on panel, 1537 Kraków, Wawel Castle

Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1472-1553
Christ Blessing the Children
oil on panel, 1537
Kraków, Wawel Castle

Today I will let the child in me accept God’s kingdom of peace, love, compassion, and comfort with wonder, delight, joy, and awe.

And with the knowing that I am blessed and welcome.

[Jesus said to them,] “Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” Then he embraced [the children] and blessed them, placing his hands on them. Mark 10:15-16

For Jesus

Tita Gori (1870-1941) Jésus-Christ entouré de disciples et d'une sainte femme Collection privée By Jean-Marc Pascolo (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Tita Gori (1870-1941)
Jésus-Christ entouré de disciples et d’une sainte femme
Collection privée
By Jean-Marc Pascolo (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

We are for Jesus, not against him, when we practice healing, reconciliation, forgiveness, compassion, love, peace, and care for the poor and vulnerable.

Jesus is the unifying force of all those who believe in the holy power of his name.

[Jesus replied,] “There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me.”

In the arms of God

James Tissot (1836-1902) Jésus et le petit enfant opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, between 1886 and 1894 Brooklyn Museum

James Tissot (1836-1902)
Jésus et le petit enfant
opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, between 1886 and 1894
Brooklyn Museum

Imagine the arms of Jesus around me.

Respectful. Comforting. Loving. Gentle. Protective. Reassuring. Encouraging. Peace-giving.

Am I willing to receive each of God’s children in the name of Jesus with respect, comfort, gentleness, protection, reassurance, encouragement, and peace?

Taking a child, [Jesus] placed it in the their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.” Mark 9:36-37