TREATISES ON PEACE
It seems we have come to the end of our almost
two-year journey exploring all the bible verses that contain the words fear or
afraid. Throughout this journey we have discovered that there are many types of
fear some good (Holy) and some not so good (servile). Yet, along the way
hopefully we have discovered the ultimate will of God is that we have peace,
faith, hope and love. Acknowledging this to finish out this journey we will be
focusing our research on the New Testament verses that expound on the fruit of
a life lived in grace trusting in our Holy God.
For everything there is a season, and a time for every
matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and
a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time
to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a
time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather
stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a
time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a
time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a
time to love, and a time to hate; a
time for war, and a time for peace.[1]
AUGUST 30 Thursday
John 14, verse 27
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.
It is important
to note that Christ gave His peace in
this verse to His apostles just before the betrayal of Judas. Fear has no place
in the hearts of believers. Likewise, all our fear and distress as people
awaiting His return must give way to
the peace that is Christ’s gift. We
now must face the conflict with the
Prince of this world by keeping that peace in a troubled world. Christ by His
death demonstrated God’s commandment of total love.
For those whose faith is struggling
in light of the Priest Scandal receive the peace of Christ and believe He will
get the boat ashore even with a Judas aboard. -Peace
Without
the peace of Christ, one is beset by a certain negativity lurking deep within a
person’s heart. It is the toxic attitude of those who rejoice at seeing an
injustice done to others. The gift of the peace of Christ is that “it rejoices
in the right”. In other words, we rejoice at the good of others when we see
their dignity and value their abilities and good works. This is impossible for those who must always be comparing and competing,
even with their spouse, so that they secretly rejoice in their failures. When a
loving person can do good for others, or sees that others are happy, they
themselves live happily and in this way give glory to God, for “God loves a
cheerful giver” (2 Cor 9:7). Our Lord especially appreciates those who
find joy in the happiness of others. If we fail to learn how to rejoice in the
well-being of others, and focus primarily on our own needs, we condemn
ourselves to a joyless existence, for, as Jesus said, “it is more blessed to
give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). The family must always be a place where, when something good happens to one of
its members, they know that others will be there to celebrate it with them.
"Read
these counsels slowly. Pause to meditate on these thoughts. They are things
that I whisper in your ear-confiding them-as a friend, as a brother, as a
father. And they are being heard by God. I won't tell you anything new. I will
only stir your memory, so that some thought will arise and strike you; and so
you will better your life and set out along ways of prayer and of Love. And in
the end you will be a more worthy soul."
55. Though you well know it, I shall remind you again that a Priest is
'another Christ'. And that the holy Spirit has said: 'Nolite tangere Christos
meos — do not touch my Christs'.
·
Please
Pray for soul of Senator
McCain and his family and for the unity of our country; asking Our Lady of Beauraing to
intercede.
No comments:
Post a Comment