REFLECTION THEME – 2010

We reflected on “Prayerfulness” as our theme for the year 2009. I offered you a thought on “Prayerfulness” every day as part of our “Daily Reflections”. We made fifteen meditations on “Prayerfulness” and shared our insights in community. I now offer you “Peacefulness” as our theme for “Reflection-2010”. I plan to bring you a message of “Peacefulness” as part of our “Daily Reflection”. We want to explore and deepen our understanding of Peacefulness and all the virtues that emerge from and surround Peacefulness.

We want to explore Peacefulness in all its dimensions and look at the possibility of cultivating Peacefulness as our way of being – living and acting. I invite all of you to walk with me on this journey of being and becoming Peaceful and learning to walk Peacefully.

I pray for you and I pray for all, who, at this moment, are welcoming the gift of this new year with all its uncertainties. May your life be peace-filled and peaceful. Some people bring peace when they come and others bring peace when they go. I pray that you bring peace into all the situations that you encounter. May this new year be the most amazing, fascinating, marvelous, wonderful and hope-filled year for you and for those you love!  May God bless you with the richest and finest of his blessings!

Now I invite you to consecrate this new year and all that come with it….in your own way, in humble, simple, may be even inadequate words………..

Peacefulness:

Let us begin by listening to God’s Word….

Blessed are the the peacemakers: they shall be called sons of God. (Mt. 5:9)

Peace is my farewell to you. My peace is my gift to you;

I do not give it to you as the world gives peace.

Do not be distressed or fearful. (John 14:27)

Rejoice in the Lord always! I say it again. Rejoice. Everyone should see how unselfish you are. The Lord is near. Dismiss all anxiety from your minds. Present your needs to God in every form of prayer and in petitions full of gratitude. Then God’s own peace, which is beyond all understanding, will guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7)

Finally, brothers, your thoughts should be wholly directed to all that is true, all that deserves respect, all that is honest, pure, admirable, decent, virtuous or worthy of praise. Live according to what you learned and accepted, what you heard me say or seen me do. Then will the God of peace be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)

Abide in this thought for a few minutes

Begin Again…..

The Webster’s Universal College Dictionary defines “Peace” as:  freedom from war; a cessation or absence of hostilities between nations; a state of harmony between people or groups; freedom from dissension; freedom from civil commotion, public order or security; freedom from anxiety, annoyance or other mental disturbance; peace of mind; a state of serenity or tranquility; silence, stillness; an agreement or treaty that ends hostilities or war; etc.

This is how, ordinarily, the world sees Peace. Jesus says: I give you peace – not as the world gives Peace Jn.14:27.

In Hebrew, the word for Peace is “Shalom” and it does not refer to a negative state – it does not mean the absence of trouble. Peace – Shalom – always meant everything which constitutes the highest good of man, the total well-being of man. In the east when one says to another, “Salaam”, or shalom, he does not mean that he wishes for the other person the absence of evil things – he wishes him the presence of good things. In the Bible, Peace is not only the absence of or freedom from trouble – but the presence and enjoyment of all good…the good that is of God and from God.

The Peace that Jesus speaks of comes not from evasion of issues – it comes from facing them, dealing with them and conquering them. The Beatitude in Mathew 5:9 does not demand passive acceptance of things – but active, creative, dynamic movement – facing them, dealing with them and making peace, even when the way of peace is a struggle.

The Blessing proclaimed in this beatitude is not on peace-lovers, but on peacemakers. How many of us choose not to act for “peace-sake” and how many create trouble for the sake of peace. Refusal to take action or face the situation often leads to chaos. Fighting for peace does not necessarily create peace, either.

The Peace makers will be called “Sons of God” (not children of God) – this is a typical Hebrew expression. The Hebrew language uses the phrase “son of” with an abstract noun to describe something – instead of an adjective, as we do today. A man may be called “son of peace”, instead of a “peaceful man”. Barnabas is called a “son of consolation, instead of a consoling and comforting man, James and John were  called “Boanerges”  , meaning “sons of thunder” referring to their impetuous nature.

Hence the beatitude means: Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be God-like persons, doing God-like work.

The person who works for peace is engaged in work which the God of peace is doing (Rom.15:33; 2Cor.13:11; I Thess.5:23).

Abide in this thought for a few minutes

Begin Again…..

Shalom means everything which constitutes the highest good of “man”. Peacemakers or shalom keepers are those who make the world a little better place to live in – those who lift others a little more – those who lift the world a little further on. “Die when I may, I would like it to be said of me that I always pulled up a weed and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.” (Abraham Lincoln)

The early scholars of the Scriptures took this beatitude in a purely spiritual sense – to mean peace of heart, peace of mind/soul. There is inner struggle that all of us experience one time or another, the struggle between good and evil – being pulled in two different directions at the same time.  Blessed is the person who works through the conflicts and brings peace to his/her heart and makes peace with God.

The Jewish Rabbis had a different meaning – which is what Jesus had in mind as He spoke this beatitude. The Jewish Rabbis held that the highest task, which a man can perform, is to establish right relationships between man and man – peacemaking – the force that binds/unites – the force that brings harmony.

There are people whose presence generates tension, conflict, bitterness, strife – trouble carriers

or trouble makers – they make others uncomfortable.  Every community, Church and society seems to have them.  There are also people in whose presence bitterness cannot live – people who can bridge the gap – people who can heal the wounds – sweeten the bitterness.  Such people do

“God-like” work and they are “God-like” persons – they are “sons of God”.

Peacemaking is such a profound activity that the peacemaker becomes a “son of God”. Being “sons of God” is about character, about quality. It is the quality of “God-like” persons and peacemaking results from this peacefulness within.  It is the quality of our inner being, a state of being in harmony with all, an attitude that brings us into communion with God and all that is of God and from God.

Peacefulness is the dream for harmony that lives in the heart of humanity even while living within the most atrocious war. It is a force that resists war and longs and waits for the day when weapons will be silent……a force that resists indifference, violence and hostilities and empowers us to tolerate and transcend differences. Peacefulness is a force that brings harmony into chaos, unity into diversity and communion of countries, cultures and religions.

I wish you Peace – God’s Peace as we begin our journey of Peacefulness – Peace in your hearts, peace in your homes, peace in your community, peace in your country, peace in the world. I pray for you that you may have peace in your hearts, you may think peace, feel peace, speak peace. You may have a word of peace for your spouse, for your children, for your neighbor……You be men and women of peace. May your presence proclaim God’s peace.

Fr. Gus Tharappel,msfs

WELLSPRING PRAYER

2010

This is my prayer for you:

• that you may be blessed, graced and empowered to walk freely, peacefully and joyfully as you face the many challenges of 2010.
• that you will continue to be grounded in prayer and your prayer grounded in life.
• that prayerfulness will characterize all the choices and decisions you make.
• That your life will be peace-filled and peaceful, that you will have peace in your hearts, in your homes, in your community, in your country and in your world.
• That peacefulness will be your way of being – living and acting.
• That you bring peace into all the situations that you encounter.
• that you may be men and women of peace, that your presence proclaims God’s peace.

May the year 2010 be God’s wonderful gift to you and I pray that you will make it a gracious and joyful gift to all you meet on your journey…….

May God bless you and keep you safe and peaceful in His love.

Fr. Gus