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
Saint Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, presents us with what is probably the most straightforward recipe for peace in the entire Bible. And it is the simplicity of this verse gives me so much hope. To understand it fully, we need to look more closely at the speaker and what he taught, gave, said, and did for the people to which he wrote.
Saint Paul has one of the greatest conversion stories in all of Church history—a complete 180 flip. He went from a persecutor of Christians to a disciple, from a hardened killer to a disciple maker. Through Paul, people came to learn about Christ and his teachings. They received the Sacraments. They heard the Good News about Christ’s resurrection and they saw how it transformed Paul’s life. And not only that, but they had the opportunity to have their lives transformed.
In this verse, Saint Paul reminds the people to stay close to the Church and to be faithful to its teachings, to participate in the Sacraments as often as they can, to have hope in the Resurrection and to bring the Good News to all they encounter. Do this, he says, and the God of peace will be with you.
In this verse, Saint Paul urges his followers to orient their words and actions toward Christ, to strive to act as Christ acted. And that is all we need to do to dwell with the God of peace.
Is there some aspect of Paul’s advice that you need to work on? What are some practical ways in which you can do this?
To Jesus through Mary-Carissa
Image by Alyssa Marie Francis
