"Let There Be Peace on Earth and Let It Begin With Me"

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give it to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”
(John 14:27)

"Let There Be Peace on Earth and Let It Begin With Me" (Music)

Is your life peaceful? If not, why not?

Mahatma Gandhi said, “Outward peace is useless without inner peace.” We cannot be at peace with God or with others unless we are first at peace with ourselves. We cannot give what we do not have or experience.

We torment ourselves with endless streams of self-illusory thoughts that cause us to worry, be anxious and fearful about a future which has not yet occurred, or about events that happened in the past that we cannot change or which we refuse to let go of, or matters over which we have little or no control.

The peace the world offers is dependent on the acts of people, groups, nations or other external conditions or events. Most, if not all of us, have never lived in a time free of war, violence , strife, conflict, or discord affecting us, our loved ones, or others in the world.

The peace we yearn for only Christ can give. Jesus, the “Prince of Peace” (Is 9:6) and “our peace” (Eph 2:14), promises his followers his peace that the world cannot give us (John 14: 27). It is the “peace of God that surpasses all understanding [and] will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:7).

The peace that Christ promises and gives us is peace that flows through our heart, soul and being and allows us to remain joyous and hopeful regardless of the painful or chaotic circumstances we may face. It is a spiritual harmony and wholeness brought about through living in right relationship with God who constantly loves us and seeks communion with us and, in turn, calls us to love God, ourselves, one another, and all creation.

How can we open ourselves to experience this inner peace offered by Christ? Like Jesus, we must place our absolute trust in God’s ultimate goodness and unconditional love for us regardless of the conditions or circumstances we may experience. Our trust grows and strengthens as we deepen our relationship with God and allow God’s grace, through the Spirit, to transform us.

We have many ways to accept and open ourselves to God’s life within us as we silence our minds and hearts. We can experience God’s transforming love through daily prayer, in communion with God and with the People of God, as we examine our conscience, or read or reflect on scripture and “good news,” as we actively participate in the Mass and receive the Sacraments, as we forgive ourselves and others, and as we minister to others in need. We are also called to live in the reality of the present moment as it is, not the illusion as we wish it were. To do otherwise only creates and subjects us to experiencing additional anxiety and suffering when reality does not conform to our expectations.

Take some time to reflect on what concerns over which you have little or no control do you torment yourself with? What can you do to allow Christ to bring peace to your life now?

Let peace begin with me through Christ’s love.