January 29, 2009
Scripture Reading
Peace I leave
with you; my peace I give you. I do not give
to you as the world gives. Do not let your
hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
- John 14:27
Thought of the Day
I stand in awe
of smart inspirational people. I have a
great collection of books of writings of
famous people. I've got books by Mother
Theresa, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King,
Dietrich Bonheoffer, and others. Often I
pick up one of these books and read a few
pages. The pages are most often dog-eared
and normally I highlight the quotes or
writings that grab me. Today I nabbed a
small book that is filled with portions of
homilies preached by Pope John Paul II. I
opened it randomly to a section of some words
about peace. I like these words of faith.
"Real peace is not just a matter of
structures and mechanisms. It rests, above
all, on the adoption of a style of human
coexistence marked by mutual acceptance and a
capacity to forgive from the heart."
As I read these
words the great hymn or folk song or whatever
you call it, "Let there be Peace on Earth"
came to my mind. This song was written by
the husband wife team of Jill Jackson and Sy
Miller back in 1955 for a retreat of young
people from all races, religions, and
backgrounds to help connect and instill upon
them how peace begins with each of us.
Remember the words.
"Let there be peace on earth, and let it
begin with me.
Let there be peace on Earth, the peace that
was meant to be."
So my prayer
for you and for us all today is to take the
Pope's words and the words of this song to
heart. Let peace begin with you today. Know
that you don't stand alone in this quest for
peace. Jesus the Christ is with you all the way.
Prayer
Lord, Let peace begin with me today and every
day. Amen.
