Lord Jesus Christ, who are called the Prince of Peace, who are yourself our peace and reconciliation, who so often said, Peace to you & grant us peace. Make all men and women witnesses of truth, justice, and brotherly love. Banish from their hearts whatever might endanger peace. Enlighten our rulers that they may guarantee and defend the great gift of peace. May all peoples of the earth becomes as brothers and sisters. May longed-for peace blossom forth and reign always over us all. Amen Blessed John XXIII
Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you Phillipians 4:9
It seems like every day, there is some horrible tragedy that comes up on the news, especially in terms of terrorism and politics. During times like this, people always ask where God is and why a loving God would allow bad things to happen.
First of all, God allows bad things to happen, but it’s not like a writer who plans bad things to happen. It’s like an improv comedy act. Say that you’re on stage and someone says “I found a baby!” The number one rule of improv is that you can’t say “No.” You have to say “Okay, yes, and?” Then you have to come up with a reason why the baby is there, like “Look at the lightning scar on the baby's forehead!”
Of course, life isn’t one big improv comedy act, but when bad things happen, we need to ask God to help us be a light in the darkness. We can’t curse the darkness in a gut reaction or act divisive because that is what the enemy wants. All these political events and terrorist attacks are ultimately outside of our control. God is ultimately the one who can change the hearts of these people. All that we can do is contribute good in this world that counteracts the bad, even if it just means praying for peace.
When bad things happen in this world, God is asking us to be an instrument of his peace, like the prayer of Saint Francis:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Be a light in the darkness. Be an instrument of God’s peace.
To Jesus through Mary -Monique
Image by Alyssa Marie Francis
