Advent Peace
The long-awaited Messiah enters as the Prince of Peace. Just how does he do this? He is the one who gathers the lost tribes scattered due to their infidelity. He gives them peace. He cleanses the temple replacing it with himself as the one who forgives sins, becomes the center of our spiritual life, the one where we become holy, the one to offer right praise, all the things the original temple served to do. In him, we find peace. He defeats the enemy which is not some outside warring tribe but something more dangerous and imposing, sin. He replaces this with his peace. He reigns as Lord of all nations, of heaven and earth. Doing so, we look to him for peace at all times. I find it interesting that the Prince of Peace, before giving fully of himself on Calvary, offers peace the night before during the Last Supper, as his life nears an end. “My peace I leave with you.” It is an offer that is forever and always. It is on display when we ask for forgiveness in the great sacrament of reconciliation, the sacrament of healing and love. It is evident when despite difficulties or misunderstandings, hurt or betrayal, we turn to the other and say, “it’s alright, things are ok, we’re good.” Real peace. It’s a gift we extend to ourselves when we mess up, don’t measure up, get all sorts of frustrated, and then remember, God adores us. It’s fine! Palpable peace.
I cannot recall the exact words, but someone commented that the road to peace is this or that. The author said emphatically, no. Peace is the way, not the goal or end product. Peace must be our frame of reference, our modus operandi. I wonder if this were so, would we have more calm than conflict, more cooperation than competition, more understanding than judgment, more acceptance than distance? Is peace the path to harmony, tenderness, belonging, and community? Is peace the tool for welcoming rather than isolating? Is it the gift of God’s presence assuring us that we are not alone and will never be abandoned?
Advent affords us the opportunity to look within to see where we may not be at peace with the world and forge a personal path to play our part to be an instrument of peace. To see the goodness God sees in others. To assess where are we at odds with others and how can we mend the fences knowing that it takes more energy and angst to stay strained in the friendship. Where can I be at more peace with myself, letting go of the sins and failures God had forgiven years ago, releasing the hurts of which we may not be able to recall their origins?
We must never underestimate the power of petitionary prayer, especially in praying for peace. As I was praying for peace for the various “hot spots” in the world, admitting that I am unaware of so many others, a notification came through on my phone that South Korea had declared martial law. Maybe I need to pray better for I simply cannot comprehend well while we “can’t all get along.” I’m growing tired of blaming everything on original sin and its all-encompassing effect. I rather we focus on the all-encompassing love which we have been given to give as gift to others. Fr. Greg Boyle’s two premises (my words) in his new book are as challenging as they are true: Everyone is unshakably good (no exceptions), and we belong to each other (no exceptions). From this starting point, we work for peace, to inclusion, to wholeness, and to wellness. We don’t walk with blinders on but rather than staying with descriptors (sexism, racism, etc.) we seek to understand what causes these things and work toward peace and wellness. We remove our blindfolds to see as God sees, to offer peace that our Lord offered to the apostles and to each of us. Eucharistic peace. “May the Peace of the Lord which is beyond all human understanding be with you always. Amen.”
Fr. John Fisher, OSFS
Pastor of Our Mother of Consolation Catholic Church
Philadelphia, PA
