BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

(Psalm 46:10)

Be in your prayer space, follow the usual steps and settle into silence.

Sit still…..Relax…….Do not rush………

Take a couple of gentle, slow and deep breaths…becoming aware of your breath going in and out… stay focused on this breath of life……

Settle into silence, into peacefulness, into profound silence, into pure joy. Keep listening in such quietness and serenity.

Come to that place, that space within, that place of deep silence – Solitude…to just being here and now without having to accomplish something.

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

Now from the depth of your heart begin to wish your mind well……….

O God, I have come into the quietness and stillness of your presence so that out of this moment, I may take with me a quiet serenity, which will last me through the rough and smooth of my life. Many hours of my days and nights are waiting to be filled a hundred ways with a hundred prayers. But, right now, at this very moment, I am at peace. I sit with you, God. I run with you, God. I walk with you, God. Thank you, God for just being here for me. Amen.

Begin Again…

We continue our reflections on peacefulness…..on the serenity within, which has its beginning in the depth of our being. “Peacefulness” is not a passive, quiet and idle presence in the world, unconcerned about what happens around us. Peacefulness is not insensitivity…it makes us more sensitive. Peacefulness is not inactivity…it makes us more active, more dynamic. Peacefulness is not being still and inattentive….it is being still and vigilant. Peacefulness is not ignoring or condoning injustice, violence and war……it is active and dynamic participation in creating and nurturing justice and peace in the world.

We meditated on discovering and rediscovering the secret of joy and peace that lives within us…..the joy and peace that are God’s gifts, the divine resource, as it were, waiting to be tapped into, experienced and enjoyed. The joy and peace that lives within remains an ever renewable wellspring of courage because that joy and peace come from God. The peacefulness and serenity that we discover within must be cultivated, nurtured.

Our last meditation was on simple and quiet and peace-filled ways of nurturing serenity within. We take time now to meditate one of those simple ways: “Forgiving and letting go”. Give yourself time to prayerfully meditate and discern ways that can enable you to be more forgiving and letting go of past hurts, pains, resentments and other such burdensome events and experiences of the past.

Forgive and let go. This is the most powerful aid to peacefulness. We often develop ill feelings inside our hearts for the person who insults us or harms us. We nurture grievances, resentments and other such slings arrows within us. This in turn results in anxieties, conflicts, tensions…may be, even loss of sleep, stomach ulcers, high blood pressure, etc. The insult or injury was done once and the person who caused the injury may have already forgotten about it, but the nourishing of grievance could go on forever by constantly remembering it. Picking on wounds interferes with the healing process.

Let go of the hurt or the insult or the injury. Life is too short to waste in such trifles. Remember that forgiveness is first of all a gift to yourself, long before it is to others. Forgive, let go and move on. Peacefulness will follow.

Now from the depth of your heart begin to wish your mind well!

For all the harm I have done to myself, knowingly or unknowingly, I forgive myself…….

For all the harm I have done to others knowingly or unknowingly forgive me…………

For all the harm others have done to me, knowingly or unknowingly, I forgive them…..

Keep saying these words in your heart for some time,

And peacefulness will follow.

Anyone who has ever done cleaning knows that dust must be handled carefully, even delicately. If not, it easily breaks up and scatters. The Psalmist reminds us that God relates to people gently, carefully and tenderly. God handles us delicately. God knows that we are soft, fragile, tender, vulnerable, easily broken – much like a dust ball.

Forgiveness is God’s way of tenderly caring for us. Make it your way….care for others gently and tenderly. Peacefulness will follow.

When we are discouraged and feeling, deeply, the pressures of life, it is good to remember: God knows how much we can handle – God knows what we are made of. With God all things become possible. Peacefulness will follow!

Remember Psalm 103:3-5…….and if you remember, peacefulness will follow!

God pardons all your iniquities, heals all your ills.

God redeems your life from destruction.

God crowns you with kindness and compassion….. Ps.103:3-5

Our God is abiding, abundant, steadfast, unconditional love – Grace. Abide in this thought and peacefulness will follow.

Our God is God of enduring, everlasting blessings. So, there is no reason for………

Memories to stay damaged……Resentments to grow…….Joy to be stifled……Past to be hurting…….Future to be fearful…….There is reason to be peace-filled, peaceful and serene……… Be Peaceful!

Gently, prayerfully, reflectively read the following story……

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. And he was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods but he could never hit the target. And getting a little discouraged; he headed back to dinner. As he was walking back he saw Grandma’s pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let fly, hit the duck square in the head, and killed it. He was shocked and grieved. In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile, only to see his sister watching. Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch that day grandma said, “Sally, let’s wash the dishes.” But Sally said, “Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today, didn’t you Johnny?” And then she whispered to him, “Remember, the duck?” So Johnny did the dishes. Later Grandpa asked if the children, wanted to go Fishing, and Grandma said, “I’m sorry but I need Sally to help make supper.” Sally smiled and said, “Well, that’s all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help.” And she whispered again, “Remember, the duck?” So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed.

After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally’s, he finally couldn’t stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed that he killed the duck. She knelt down, gave him a hug, and said, “Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing. But because I love you, I forgave you. But I was just wondering how long would you let Sally make a slave of you.”

I don’t know what’s in your past. I don’t know what one sin the enemy keeps throwing up in your face. But whatever it is, I want you to know something. Jesus Christ was standing at the window. And He saw the whole thing. But because He loves you, He has forgiven you. Perhaps He’s wondering how long you’ll let the enemy make a slave out of you. The great thing about God is that He not only forgives, but He forgets. (MICAH 7:19) He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and he wilt cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.

Remember Micah 7:19……… Our God will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. Peacefulness will follow.

Prayerfully read and reflect on the following……dwell on them, keep them in your hearts. Peacefulness will follow!

Your offences and your sins, I remember no more! (Isaiah 43:25)

As far as the east is from the west,

So far has he put our transgressions! Ps. 103:12

Yahweh knows what we are made of;

Yahweh remembers that we are dust. Ps. 103:14

The kindness of the Lord is from eternity to eternity,

Toward those who fear him. Ps.103:17

I will place my law within them and write it upon their hearts;

I will be their God and they shall be my people. Jeremiah 31:33

Abide in these thoughts and peacefulness will follow.

Now from the depth of your heart begin to wish your mind well!

For all the harm I have done to myself, knowingly or unknowingly, I forgive myself…….

For all the harm I have done to others knowingly or unknowingly forgive me…………

For all the harm others have done to me, knowingly or unknowingly, I forgive them…..

Keep saying these words in your heart for some time,

And peacefulness will follow.

Remember……

To have peace, you must be PEACEFUL.

You can choose PEACE in all situations.

Nothing in the world can disturb the PEACE you nurture within.

Welcome others to join you in PEACEFULNESS AND SERENITY!

If you want peace, be peaceful…..teach yourself to take a completely different approach, a gentle approach, a “peacefulness approach”.

If you want to experience peacefulness, begin from a posture of peace. However, be prepared to stay in that posture for as long as it takes.

If you find yourself in a situation where there are no peaceful persons, strive to be a peaceful person and if you find yourself in a situation where there are no peacemakers, strive to be a peacemaker.

Fr. Gus Tharappel,msfs

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

(Psalm 46:10)

Be in your prayer space, follow the usual steps and settle into silence.

Sit still…..Relax…….Do not rush………

Take a couple of gentle, slow and deep breaths…becoming aware of your breath going in and out… stay focused on this breath of life……

Settle into silence, into peacefulness, into profound silence, into pure joy. Keep listening in such quietness and serenity.

Come to that place, that space within, that place of deep silence – Solitude…to just being here and now without having to accomplish something.

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

Now from the depth of your heart begin to wish your mind well……….

O God, I have come into the quietness and stillness of your presence so that out of this moment, I may take with me a quiet serenity, which will last me through the rough and smooth of my life. Many hours of my days and nights are waiting to be filled a hundred ways with a hundred prayers. But, right now, at this very moment, I am at peace. I sit with you, God. I run with you, God. I walk with you, God. Thank you, God for just being here for me. Amen.

Begin Again…

We continue our reflections on peacefulness…..on the serenity within, which has its beginning in the depth of our being. “Peacefulness” is not a passive, quiet and idle presence in the world, unconcerned about what happens around us. Peacefulness is not insensitivity…it makes us more sensitive. Peacefulness is not inactivity…it makes us more active, more dynamic. Peacefulness is not being still and inattentive….it is being still and vigilant. Peacefulness is not ignoring or condoning injustice, violence and war……it is active and dynamic participation in creating and nurturing justice and peace in the world. Peacefulness is war against injustice, violence and war without violence.

Our last meditation was on discovering and rediscovering the secret of joy and peace that lives within us…..the joy and peace that are God’s gifts, the divine resource, as it were, waiting to be tapped into, experienced and enjoyed.

God has not abandoned us, His people. He has NOT given up on us. This is the real source of peacefulness and serenity. The joy and peace that lives within remains an ever renewable wellspring of courage because that joy and peace come from God.

The peacefulness and serenity that we discover within must be cultivated, nurtured. Each of us must find our own ways of nurturing serenity within.

We now take time to meditate on simple and quiet and peace-filled ways of nurturing serenity within. Give yourself time to prayerfully meditate and discern ways that can enable you to be more peaceful, peace-filled and serene. Dwell on each of the following and choose what helps you to be more peacefulness. You may have your own ways of cultivating peacefulness.

Face your worries…don’t run from them. Your worries are yours…take charge of them and make sure you have them and they don’t have you. Peacefulness will follow.

• Remind yourself that worry is a bad habit and like any other habit, it can be broken.

• Before rising from bed each morning, say: “Thank you, Lord, for the gift of another day”, and keep saying it as you go about doing your morning chores.

• Place into God’s hands your new day, your life, your loved ones, your work and all your concerns.

• Tell yourself that you are in God’s hands and that God will be there for you and He will help you deal with whatever comes along.

• Think and speak positively about yourself. Don’t say: “I will never be able to….., say, “I am going to give it a try”.

• Cultivate friendships with people who are optimistic and serene.

• Help another person become free of worry, fear, anxiety.

• Remember: God is always with you….He is “Emmanuel”, “God-with-us”.

• Remember: the world will not slip out of God’s hands – it could slip out of yours.

   

• Remember to: Be your best; Do your best; Give your best; And leave the rest to the Lord.

  Peacefulness will follow.

   

Forgive and let go. This is the most powerful aid to peacefulness. We often develop ill feelings inside our hearts for the person who insults us or harms us. We nurture grievances, resentments and other such slings arrows within us. This in turn results in anxieties, conflicts, tensions…may be, even loss of sleep, stomach ulcers, high blood pressure, etc. The insult or injury was done once and the person who caused the injury may have already forgotten about it, but the nourishing of grievance could go on forever by constantly remembering it. Picking on wounds interferes with the healing process. Let go of the hurt or the insult or the injury. Life is too short to waste in such trifles. Remember that forgiveness is first of all a gift to yourself, long before it is to others. Forgive, let go and move on. Peacefulness will follow.

Learn to write your hurts in the sand and to carve your blessings on stone. We must learn to remember the blessings and be grateful. We must also learn to let go of hurtful and disappointing experiences and events. Peacefulness will follow.

A story tells that two friends walking through the desert. During an argument, one friend slapped the other one in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand: “Today, my best friend slapped me in the face”.

They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him. After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone: “Today, my best friend saved me”.

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, “After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?” The other friend replied, “when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it.” Peacefulness will follow.

Be humble and simple. Do not crave for recognition. Selfishness robs you of your peace of mind. Selfish people see their own recognition, honor and praise and seldom praise anybody without selfish motives. Striving for recognition stifles the spirit. Do your duties ethically, sincerely, lovingly and with generosity. Peacefulness will follow.

Be appreciate of other’s blessings and gifts and do not be jealous. Jealousy can disturb our peace of mind. Why should you be jealous at another’s gifts or talents or accomplishments or success? Remember everybody’s life is formed and shaped differently. Be grateful for what you are and what you have. Nothing will be gained by blaming others for your misfortune. Jealousy will not get you anywhere; it will only take away your peace of mind. Learn to appreciate and respect other’s blessings and gifts…. Peacefulness will follow.

Be encouraging and supportive. A word of encouragement during a failure is worth more than an hour of praise after success. Life is full of imperfect things, imperfect events…..and imperfect people. Learning to accept each other’s faults  and acknowledging each other’s differences are the most important keys to creating healthy, growing, and lasting relationship. They are also keys to peacefulness and serenity. Use encouraging and supportive words. Peacefulness will follow.

Change yourself and your attitudes rather than trying to change everyone else and your environment. Changing yourself is hard. Try changing others???
We face situations that we neither understand nor appreciate. We want change, but change may be beyond us. It is up to us to change our attitudes toward whatever is beyond us. We can choose to work around them, with them, through them, bear with them or choose to leave the situation. As you do this, even the environment, which has been unfriendly to you, will mysteriously change and seem congenial and harmonious. Peacefulness will follow.

Learn to endure what cannot be cured. This is the best way to turn a disadvantage into an advantage. Every day, we face numerous inconveniences, ailments, irritations, and accidents that are beyond our control. If we cannot control them or change them, we must learn to bear with them. We must learn to endure them cheerfully. Believe in yourself and your capacity for endurance. Teach yourself to be patient, rely on your inner strength and strengthen your will power. Peacefulness will follow.

Remember……

To have peace, you must be PEACEFUL.

You can choose PEACE in all situations.

Nothing in the world can disturb the PEACE you nurture within.

Welcome others to join you in PEACEFULNESS AND SERENITY!

If you want peace, be peaceful…..teach yourself to take a completely different approach, a gentle approach, a “peacefulness approach”.

If you want to experience peacefulness, begin from a posture of peace. However, be prepared to stay in that posture for as long as it takes.

My Prayer for you:

May you fearlessly dream, speak, stand and work for justice and peace!

May you make no peace with oppression, injustice, violence or war!

May you strive to be a shining witness of reconciliation, harmony and peace!

May you reach across boundaries and barriers to form community with all people!

May you be a peaceful person and may your presence bring peace!

And may God who has loved you without measure fill you with blessings and grace and the experience of the joyful communion of the saints of God……..and be “peace” for all!

If you find yourself in a situation where there are no peaceful persons, strive to be a peaceful person and if you find yourself in a situation where there are no peacemakers, strive to be a peacemaker.

Fr. Gus Tharappel,msfs

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

(Psalm 46:10)

Be in your prayer space, follow the usual steps and settle into silence.

Sit still…..Relax…….Do not rush………

Take a couple of gentle, slow and deep breaths…becoming aware of your breath going in and out… stay focused on this breath of life……

Settle into silence, into peacefulness, into profound silence, into pure joy. Keep listening in such quietness and serenity.

Come to that place, that space within, that place of deep silence – Solitude…to just being here and now without having to accomplish something.

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

Now from the depth of your heart begin to wish your mind well……….

O God, I have come into the quietness and stillness of your presence so that out of this moment, I may take with me a quiet serenity, which will last me through the rough and smooth of my life. Many hours of my days and nights are waiting to be filled a hundred ways with a hundred prayers. But, right now, at this very moment, I am at peace. I sit with you, God. I run with you, God. I walk with you, God. Thank you, God for just being here for me. Amen.

Begin Again…

We continue our reflections on peacefulness…..on the serenity within, which has its beginning in the depth of our being. “Peacefulness” is not a passive, quiet and idle presence in the world, unconcerned about what happens around us. It is a dynamic force within us, which moves us to be sensitive to the needs, concerns, struggles, pains, alienation, separation, poverty, hunger, injustice and violence that our brothers and sisters experience.

Peacefulness is not insensitivity…it makes us more sensitive. Peacefulness is not inactivity…it makes us more active, more dynamic. Peacefulness is not being still and inattentive….it is being still and vigilant. Peacefulness is not ignoring or condoning injustice, violence and war……it is active and dynamic participation in creating and nurturing justice and peace in the world. Peacefulness is war against injustice, violence and war without violence.

Our last meditation was on our call to participate in creating and nurturing justice and peace. Only a peaceful heart can work for justice and peace without violence and war. We must let justice be a lens through which we see all of reality, for justice means faithfulness to all of our relationships – with God, with one another, with the world, with the universe. If Jesus, with whom we walk, is, indeed, the very justice of God, then it is through him, with him, in him and because of him that we are to live justly, mercifully and peacefully with all others, as we continue our journey into the eternal.

Jesus came to liberate us from all binding and oppressive forces and restore us to our dignity as sons of God. This agenda of Jesus is the mission of the church, his body. The motivation for all our efforts at justice and liberation is that we are one body; we share one baptism; we are all given to drink of the same Sprit; we, though many, are one; we, though with different social status, different ethnicity, different gifts, different functions, are all one body in Christ. It is this very oneness that must move us to action, for, when one of the members of the body of Christ suffers, all are affected.

Therefore, each of us is responsible for the freedom and dignity of all of us…..each of us is responsible for the harmony and unity that should exist in the “Body”. Peacefulness results from such harmony. Peace and harmony and unity are not ideals and values to strive for. They are integral part of being human, being made in God’s image, being sons of God, being the BODY of Christ.

The Prophet Isaiah had a beautiful vision of the Lord’s house being established as the highest of all mountains, raised above all hills, to which all nations would came. On this mountain, he says, a sense of brotherhood, harmony and peace would come….peacefulness will be the reality and not the ideals that we wish or strive for.

The Prophet announced that all instruments of destruction would be turned into creative, life-giving instruments, “sword into plowshares…..spears into pruning hooks……..” From this vision came the call of Isaiah to “walk in the light of the Lord” (Isaiah 2:1-5)

The prophet again described the joy that would come when the righteous ruler reigns. In his day the prophet says, “the desert and the parched land will exult……strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak…the eyes of the blind will opened….mute will sing……they will meet with joy and gladness and sorrow and mourning will flee” (Is. 35:1-10). The whole cosmos will reflect the joy of a redeemed people. God will do what the world thinks impossible. Peacefulness will be the reality that he Messiah ushers in. We are challenged today to open ourselves to the possibility of a world transformed by the coming of Christ, the prince of peace, peacefulness incarnate.

We are challenged to discover and rediscover the secret of joy and peace that lives within us. That joy and peace are God’s gifts, the divine resource, as it were, waiting to be tapped into, experienced and enjoyed. God has not abandoned us, His people. He has NOT given up on us. This is a source of peacefulness and serenity. So, we SHALL NOT give up on ourselves or on others or on the world.

The Joy and peace that lives within us empowers us to go on in hope, even when storms of life disrupt relationships, incredible tragedies happen, mega-companies lie and cheat the public, ministers of God sin and abuse their privileges, etc. The joy and peace that lives within remains an ever renewable wellspring of courage and peace because that joy and peace come from God.

The prophet Zephaniah called his people to rejoice because, “The Lord is in our midst”. “Shout for joy! Sing! Be glad! Fear not!”. Be happy! Because “The Lord is near”….. “they will rest with no one to disturb them” (Zephaniah 3:11-18).

Paul encouraged the Thessalonian community to make “rejoicing” a habit. “Rejoice always”, Paul says. (I Thess. 5:16-24). He encouraged the Philippian converts, “Rejoice in the Lord always!” Because “The Lord is near”! (Philippians 4:4-7)

Paul was in prison and the Philippian converts were about to experience the pain of persecution. Paul exhorted them to rejoice and he exhorts us today to nurture authentic joy amid the pain of war, car-bombings, terrorist threats and attacks, poor leadership, clergy scandal, etc. Paul’s reason for joy is “The Lord is near”.

Our belief in the nearness of our God should remove all fears and anxieties while bringing true and abiding peace. How blessed is the person who knows the nearness of his God!

Faith in the nearness of God should not only make us rejoice, but should enable us to cope with anxiety. Paul encouraged his readers and us today not to waste time fretting or worrying, instead, channel all energies into prayer, with gratitude. Paul says that those who call upon God in grateful prayer, will be empowered to endure anxiety…… they will know God’s peace, which surpasses all understanding. What a gift…peacefulness beyond all understanding!

He was just a little boy, On a week’s first day.

He was wandering home from Sunday School, And dawdling on the way.

He scuffed his shoes into the grass; He found a caterpillar.

He found a fluffy milkweed pod, And blew out all the “filler.”

A bird’s nest in a tree o’er head, So wisely placed on high.

Was just another wonder That caught his eager eye.

A neighbor watched his zigzag course, And hailed him from the lawn;

Asked him where he’d been that day And what was going on.

“I’ve been to Bible School,” he said, And turned a piece of sod.

He picked up a wiggly worm Replying, “I’ve learned a lot of God.”

“That’s a very fine way,” the neighbor said, “For a boy to spend his time.”

“If you’ll tell me where God is, I’ll give you a brand new dime.”

Quick as a flash the answer came! Nor were his accents faint.

“I’ll give you a dollar Mister, if you can Tell me where God ain’t!

How blessed is the person who knows the nearness of his God!

Remember……

To have peace, you must be PEACEFUL.

You can choose PEACE in all situations.

Nothing in the world can disturb the PEACE you nurture within.

Welcome others to join you in PEACEFULNESS AND SERENITY!

If you want peace, be peaceful…..teach yourself to take a completely different approach, a gentle approach, a “peacefulness approach”. If you want to experience peacefulness you must begin from a posture of peace. One word of caution: Be prepared to stay in that posture for as long as it takes.

My Prayer for you:

May you fearlessly dream, speak, stand and work for justice and peace!

May you make no peace with oppression, injustice, violence or war!

May you strive to be a shining witness of reconciliation, harmony and peace!

May you reach across boundaries and barriers to form community with all people!

May you be a peaceful person and may your presence bring peace!

And may God who has loved you without measure fill you with blessings and grace and the experience of joyful communion of the saints of God……..and be “peace” for all!

Take a moment and pray…

God grant me,

        The serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

        Courage to change the things I can,

        And the Wisdom to know the difference.

        Living one day at a time;

        Enjoying one moment at a time;

        Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.

        Taking as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;

        Trusting that He will make all things right,

        If I surrender to His will;

        That I may be reasonably happy in this life,

        And supremely happy in the next. (Reinhold Niebuhr)

If you find yourself in a situation where there are no peaceful persons, strive to be a peaceful person and if you find yourself in a situation where there are no peacemakers, strive to be a peacemaker.

Fr. Gus Tharappel,msfs

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

(Psalm 46:10)

Be in your prayer space, follow the usual steps and settle into silence.

Sit still…..Relax…….Do not rush………

Take a couple of gentle, slow and deep breaths…becoming aware of your breath going in and out… stay focused on this breath of life……

Settle into silence, into peacefulness, into profound silence, into pure joy. Keep listening in such quietness and serenity.

Come to that place, that space within, that place of deep silence – Solitude…to just being here and now without having to accomplish something.

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

Now from the depth of your heart begin to wish your mind well……….

O God, I have come into the quietness and stillness of your presence so that out of this moment, I may take with me a quiet serenity, which will last me through the rough and smooth of my life. Many hours of my days and nights are waiting to be filled a hundred ways with a hundred prayers. But, right now, at this very moment, I am at peace. I sit with you, God. I run with you, God. I walk with you, God. Thank you, God for just being here for me. Amen.

Begin Again…

We continue our reflections on peacefulness…..on the serenity within, which has its beginning in the depth of our being. Our last meditation was on the source of peacefulness and serenity as the gift of God, the divine resource, as it were, waiting to be tapped into, experienced and enjoyed. We reflected on the peace that lives within, which empowers us to go on in hope, even when storms of life disrupt relationships, incredible tragedies happen, mega-companies lie and cheat the public, ministers of God sin and abuse their privileges and so on. The Peace that lives within remains an ever renewable “wellspring of courage” because that Peace is of God and that peace is God himself

“Peacefulness” is not a passive, quiet and idle presence in the world, unconcerned about what happens around us. It is a dynamic force within us, which moves us to be sensitive to the needs, concerns, struggles, pains, alienation, separation, poverty, hunger, injustice and violence that our brothers and sisters experience. Peacefulness is not insensitivity…it makes us more sensitive. Peacefulness is not inactivity…it makes us more active, more dynamic. Peacefulness is not being still and inattentive….it is being still and vigilant. Peacefulness is not ignoring or condoning injustice, violence and war……it is active and dynamic participation in creating and nurturing justice and peace in the world. Peacefulness is war against injustice, violence and war without violence.

This meditation is on our call to participate in creating and nurturing justice and peace. Only a peaceful heart can work for justice and peace without violence and war.

Jesus came proclaiming “justice and peace” for all. He calls us to live a life of justice and peace which are integral parts of the reign of God. There is an urgency in our world for justice and peace. We continue the mission of Jesus in proclaiming the kingdom of justice and peace…and being and becoming men and women of justice and peace.

As deformed by sin, violence and war, the shape of this world will pass away. We are offered the hope that God is preparing a new dwelling place and a new earth where justice and peace meet, embrace and abide (Psalm 85:11-14) and the blessedness that comes from this transformed world will surpass all the longings for peace which spring up in the human heart (Phil. 4:8-9).

The Psalmist prays and affirms his faith……

Restore us, O God our savior,

And abandon your displeasure against us.

Will you be ever angry with us,

Prolonging your anger to all generations?

Will you not instead give us life;

And shall not your people rejoice in you?

Show us, O Lord, your kindness,

And grant us your salvation.

I will hear what God proclaims;

The Lord – for he proclaims peace

To his people, and to his faithful ones,

And to those who put in him their hope.

Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,

Glory dwelling in our land.

Kindness and truth shall meet;

Justice and peace shall kiss.

Truth shall spring out of the earth,

And justice shall look down from heaven.

The Lord himself will give his benefits;

Our land shall yield its increase.

Justice shall walk before him,

And salvation, along the way of his steps. (Psalm 85:5-14)

Abide in these thoughts for some time

When Jesus stepped forward to be baptized by john in the Jordan, he thereby affirmed his solidarity with us sinners in a public way. He became for us God-with-us-sinners, in the flesh. His conception, his birth, his life and work with Mary and Joseph, his struggle with human weakness, his friendship with people including his enemies, all of which proclaimed his solidarity with us sinful men and women.

Jesus wished to be completely in solidarity with us and so stepped into the Jordan river with self-admitted sinners to be baptized by John.

Our baptism brings us into solidarity with Christ and with him into solidarity with all people of God as brothers and sisters.

As Jesus was being baptized, he was identified and affirmed as the beloved son of God and empowered with the Holy Spirit. This is what happens at our own baptism. We are identified and affirmed as “sons of God” and empowered with the Holy Spirit to live as sons of God and to fulfill the mission entrusted to us.

To be identified as “Sons of God” means to be immersed into the very likeness of God, to be immersed into the mystery of God’s life and love…that the sons inherit the qualities and characteristics of the father. This is what it means to be sons of God….to be immersed into the character of God, to be identified with the image of God, to be called and named to image God in the world.

The servant songs of the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 42, 49, 50, 52) celebrate the character of the servant of God who suffered and died for the sake of truth and justice. They also give us a vision of the character of every baptized person, the disciples of Jesus today, called to share the call of the “servant of God” to serve and suffer for the cause of “justice and peace”.

Only a peaceful heart can serve and suffer for the cause of justice and peace without violence and war. Peacefulness is war against war without violence.

When the servant songs were first composed, it was Israel who was to see its identity and purpose described therein. Israel was called, named, identified, chosen and sent so that other nations will come to know God’s salvation, justice and peace.

In Baptism we are immersed into the mystery of love, God’s love. We are washed clean, given a clean garment, a lighted candle and anointed priest, prophet and king….all symbolizing our character.

We are identified, named, chosen and sent to be symbols of God’s “salvation, justice and peace” for the world. Just as other nations came to know God’s salvation, justice and peace through Israel, today the world must experience the salvation, justice and peace of God through us and our church and our church institutions……..

Abide in these thoughts for some time

Israel was to be the sacrament of solidarity that God intended for all people. This unity, solidarity was to be accomplished by the establishment of justice on earth…..not merely “distributive justice”, one that metes out same measure to everyone, but a “substantive justice”, one that is attentive to “the full enhancement of human life….one that would touch all aspects of human interactions and social institutions.

Today, we, God’s people, the church, the body of Christ must be and become the symbol, the sacrament of God’s salvation, justice and peace.

Justice has to do with right relationships…right ordering of all relationships. Justice is a whole network of relationships and not just “same measure to everyone”. The basis of justice for Israel was the nations covenant with God. The basis of justice for us is our covenant with God….our baptism, our immersion into God’s life and love.

Israelites were to father the fatherless, mother the motherless, welcome the strangers, feed the travelers and show hospitality to resident aliens…not only because the outsider and the orphan deserved it, but because this was the manner in which God cared for Israel. They were to reflect the character of God….they were to give to others what God gave them….they were to act toward one another as God had acted toward them.

Their justice was supposed to be justice NOT of humankind, but the justice of God…the practice of justice was an expression of covenantal love, God’s love as well as their own. This is the kind of justice we are called to practice….giving others what God gave us, acting toward others the way God has acted toward us, loving others the way God has loved us…… “love one another as I have loved you” was the command Jesus gave his disciples………..

Jesus came to save and liberate us from sin, but he also came to liberate us from all other forms of enslavement as well: sickness, poverty, injustice, corruption, inequality, etc. Jesus, in his words and works, taught us that salvation and liberation are not simply otherworldly realities; rather, they are to shape our human experience now. Jesus did not merely promise heaven when you die; on the contrary, he demanded that through the sharing of the rich with the poor, there be daily bread on the table, here and now.

Jesus was not merely a reformer but a liberator. He came to liberate us from all binding and oppressive forces and restore us to our dignity as sons of God. This agenda of Jesus is the mission of the church, his body. The motivation for all our efforts at justice and liberation is that we are one body; we share one baptism; we are all given to drink of the same Sprit; we, though many, are one; we, though with different social status, different ethnicity, different gifts, different functions, are all one body in Christ. It is this very oneness that must move us to action, for, when one of the members of the body of Christ suffers, all are affected. Therefore, each of us is responsible for the freedom and dignity of all of us.

Abide in these thoughts for some time

Remember……

To have peace, you must be PEACEFUL.

You can choose PEACE in all situations.

Nothing in the world can disturb the PEACE you nurture within.

Welcome others to join you in PEACEFULNESS AND SERENITY!

If you want peace, be peaceful…..teach yourself to take a completely different approach, a gentle approach, a “peacefulness approach”. If you want to experience peacefulness you must begin from a posture of peace. One word of caution: Be prepared to stay in that posture for as long as it takes.

My Prayer for you:

May you fearlessly dream, speak, stand and work for justice and peace!

May you make no peace with oppression, injustice, violence or war!

May you strive to be a shining witness of reconciliation, harmony and peace!

May you reach across boundaries and barriers to form community with all people!

May you be a peaceful person and may your presence bring peace!

And may God who has loved you without measure fill you with blessings and grace and the experience of joyful communion of the saints of God……..and be “peace” for all!

Take a moment and pray…

God grant me,

        The serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

        Courage to change the things I can,

        And the Wisdom to know the difference.

        Living one day at a time;

        Enjoying one moment at a time;

        Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.

        Taking as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;

        Trusting that He will make all things right,

        If I surrender to His will;

        That I may be reasonably happy in this life,

        And supremely happy in the next. (Reinhold Niebuhr)

If you find yourself in a situation where there are no peaceful persons, strive to be a peaceful person and if you find yourself in a situation where there are no peacemakers, strive to be a peacemaker.

Fr. Gus Tharappel,msfs

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

(Psalm 46:10)

Be in your prayer space, follow the usual steps and settle into silence.

Sit still…..Relax…….Do not rush………

Take a couple of gentle, slow and deep breaths…becoming aware of your breath going in and out… stay focused on this breath of life……

Settle into silence, into peacefulness, into profound silence, into pure joy. Keep listening in such quietness and serenity.

Come to that place, that space within, that place of deep silence – Solitude…to just being here and now without having to accomplish something.

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

Now from the depth of your heart begin to wish your mind well……….

O God, I have come into the quietness and stillness of your presence so that out of this moment, I may take with me a quiet serenity, which will last me through the rough and smooth of my life. Many hours of my days and nights are waiting to be filled a hundred ways with a hundred prayers. But, right now, at this very moment, I am at peace. I sit with you, God. I run with you, God. I walk with you, God. Thank you, God for just being here for me. Amen.

Begin Again…

We continue our reflections on peacefulness…..on the serenity within, which has its beginning in the depth of our being. Our last meditation was on acceptance of self with all its limitations, weaknesses and goodness and strength….being at ease with the incompleteness of our self, as one of the most basic source of peacefulness. We begin again meditating on the many sources of peacefulness and serenity.

Jesus gave his disciples his farewell gift: PEACE. He said that this was not the kind of peace the world would give. It is enduring peace, lasting peace, eternal peace. The word for peace used in this context is “shalom” and shalom means “total well-being”, “the highest good”, “that which befits God”. It is not the absence or the end of war or conflict. It is the presence of shalom, even in the midst of tension. This is the kind of peace, shalom that Jesus experienced in loving and fulfilling the Father’s will.

Peace I leave with you, My Peace I give unto you. Jn. 14:27

Blessed are the peacemakers. They will become sons of God. Mt. 5:9

Share with all of God’s holy people who are in need; look for opportunities to be hospitable. Rom.12:13

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 4:8-9)

Peace is God’s gifts, the divine resource, as it were, waiting to be tapped into, experienced and enjoyed.

The Peace that lives within empowers us to go on in hope, even when storms of life disrupt relationships, incredible tragedies happen, mega-companies lie and cheat the public, ministers of God sin and abuse their privileges and so on.

The Peace that lives within remains an ever renewable “wellspring of courage” because that Peace is of God and that peace is God himself.

“Seek what you seek, but not where you seek it. Your heart has been made for God and it shall be restless until it rests in Him”. (St. Augustine)

Remember……..Deep down in every man, woman, and child, is the fundamental truth of God, of the Sacred Presence, of Sacred Love, of Sacred peace. It may be obscured by many things, but it sure is there for us to touch, to feel, to experience, to celebrate – to dwell, to rest, to abide………

Let us re-call and re-member our earlier reflections on peace as the quality of our inner being, as a state of being in harmony with all, as an attitude that brings us into communion with God and all that is of God and form God……

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 that is of God and from God.

Peacefulness is an internal state of harmony and tranquility derived from the awareness of peace. Thought, word, and deed produced in response to a desire to create, promote, or maintain a state of peace, a state of being harmonious, serene, peaceful and peace-filled..

Read the following story about a woman and some birds that gives us great insights on peacefulness. One day a woman went to the park to meditate. She found a quiet, sunny place, spread her blanket, and sat down. She closed her eyes, breathed deeply, and was prepared to begin an inward exploration of her thoughts and feelings. As her breathing became regulated and her mind still, she became aware of some birds chirping near her. At first it was a melodic and peaceful addition to her inward journey. Within moments, however, the birds began to squawk, almost scream at each other. As the woman tried to stay focused on her breathing, the birds seemed to squawk louder and louder.

The woman’s eyes flew open. There were at least twenty birds sitting around her, screeching at each other. She looked around and the rest of the park was empty. Halfheartedly, with a flinging gesture of her hands, the woman shooed the birds away. Some left. Some remained. Those who remained became very quiet, until she closed her eyes.

It seemed as if the second she closed her eyes, the birds started screeching again. Quite annoyed, the woman got up and moved. The birds flew away. Upon finding another prime spot of grass, the woman sat down to begin the process all over again. As soon as she did, the birds came back. “This is ridiculous!” the woman said to the birds. “Shoo! Shoo! Go on! Get out of here!” The birds flew a little higher, but in a seeming act of defiance, they continued to squawk. Totally annoyed and irritated with the birds for disturbing her peace, the woman stood up and began to chase the birds. She would run to the left, and fling her blanket at them. The birds would fly away, but they wouldn’t shut up. As soon as she cleared those on the left, a new crew arrived to her right. Changing directions, she would shoo them away. They would circle her, squawking, and swoop down a few feet away. Within moments, the woman was flinging her arms around like a lunatic, screaming at the birds who were squawking back at her. Realizing how crazy she must have looked, she snatched her blanket from the ground and stormed out of the park.

Later that evening the woman had an opportunity to relate her experience in the park to her teacher (her guru). Her exasperation returned even in the midst of telling the story. The teacher smiled and asked, “Why did you not welcome them to join you?” “How was I supposed to do that?” she asked. “Om Nama Shiva,” the guru responded, “which means, ‘I surrender to Shiva (meaning the God) within me.”

A few days later the woman went back to the park. She went through the entire process again. The moment she became still, the birds began to sing. As soon as she heard them, she mentally affirmed, “Om Nama Shiva.” The birds began to squawk. “Om Nama Shiva.” It began to sound as if every bird in the state had converged on the very spot where she was sitting. She never opened her eyes. She continued to breathe deeply, affirming louder and louder in her mind, “Om Nama Shiva! Om Nama Shiva! OM NAMA SHIVA!” She thought the words faster and louder. So fast and loud in fact that she became so mentally exhilarated that she stopped. It was then that she noticed the silence. Either the birds had flown away or simply shut up. She did not open her eyes to determine which had occurred.

Please note: you may translate or replace “Om nama Shiva” with something more meaningful for you. How about: “All to Jesus I surrender…..” “Bless the Lord, O my soul….” “Let all that is within me cry Holy…” or something similar.

Why is it that we walk into a room of screaming children and yell at the top of our lungs, “BE QUIET!”? If you want peace, be peace. I remember many of my teachers, in elementary school, screaming, “Be quiet”, “Shut up, you give me a head ache”….screaming was always a good way to get the teacher to shut up and give us a break!!! Our silence didn’t last long…..we were back to our noisy self after a few minutes. It is the vocation of children to make noise and be loud and they are good at it and they are faithful to their calling!!!

If you want peace, be peaceful…..teach yourself to take a completely different approach, a gentle approach, a “peacefulness approach”.

If you want to experience peacefulness you must begin from a posture of peace. One word of caution: Be prepared to stay in that posture for as long as it takes.

My Prayer for you:

May you fearlessly dream, speak, stand and work for justice and peace!

May you make no peace with oppression, injustice, violence or war!

May you strive to be a shining witness of reconciliation, harmony and peace!

May you reach across boundaries and barriers to form community with all people!

May you be a peaceful person and may your presence bring peace!

And may God who has loved you without measure fill you with blessings and grace and the experience of joyful communion of the saints of God……..and be “peace” for all!

Take a moment and pray…

God grant me,

        The serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

        Courage to change the things I can,

        And the Wisdom to know the difference.

        Living one day at a time;

        Enjoying one moment at a time;

        Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.

        Taking as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;

        Trusting that He will make all things right,

        If I surrender to His will;

        That I may be reasonably happy in this life,

        And supremely happy in the next. (Reinhold Niebuhr)

If you find yourself in a situation where there are no peaceful persons, strive to be a peaceful person and if you find yourself in a situation where there are no peacemakers, strive to be a peacemaker.

Fr. Gus Tharappel,msfs

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

(Psalm 46:10)

Be in your prayer space, follow the usual steps and settle into silence.

Sit still…..Relax…….Do not rush………

Take a couple of gentle, slow and deep breaths…becoming aware of your breath going in and out… stay focused on this breath of life……

Settle into silence, into peacefulness, into profound silence, into pure joy. Keep listening in such quietness and serenity.

Come to that place, that space within, that place of deep silence – Solitude…to just being here and now without having to accomplish something.

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

Now from the depth of your heart begin to wish your mind well……….

O God, I have come into the quietness and stillness of your presence so that out of this moment, I may take with me a quiet serenity, which will last me through the rough and smooth of my life. Many hours of my days and nights are waiting to be filled a hundred ways with a hundred prayers. But, right now, at this very moment, I am at peace. I sit with you, God. I run with you, God. I walk with you, God. Thank you, God for just being here for me. Amen.

Begin Again…

We begin again our reflections on peacefulness. Our last meditation was on being peaceful, peace-filled and serene…..on keeping our heart in a good place, a peaceful, peace-filled and serene place and on responding to situation from a peaceful, peace-filled and serene heart.

We also prayed “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me…..Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony.” Peace begins with me…from the depth of a peaceful, peace-filled, serene heart. We continue our reflections on peacefulness…..on the serenity within, which has its beginning in the depth of our being.

One of the most basic source of this peacefulness is acceptance of self with all its limitations, weaknesses and goodness and strength….being at ease with the incompleteness of our self.

Even Jesus, the perfect one, had to learn to be at ease with his own incompleteness……sounds paradoxical, the perfect one being at ease with incompleteness!

Jesus had to be born a baby in a manger and be dependent on others! He had to learn the skills of his father….had to struggle with trying, testing times…..had to hunger and thirst and doubt! The perfect one had to confront the imperfect and be at ease, at peace and serene!!!

Being at ease with the incompleteness of our self becomes a source of grace and strength and peace and serenity!

Bering accepted by others also contributes to peacefulness. Acceptance means that the people with whom we live give us a feeling of self-respect, a feeling that of being good and worthwhile.

Acceptance does not mean that everything is alright and perfect. It means that we are given room to grow, to unfold, to outgrow the mistakes of the past. In a way we can say that acceptance is an unveiling. Every one of us is born with many potentialities. But unless they are drawn out by the warm touch of another’s acceptance, they will remain dormant. Acceptance liberates everything that is good and true and worthwhile in us.

Acceptance is not denial of defects, limitations or weaknesses. Denial is non-acceptance. Only acceptance can enable a person to face his defects, weaknesses and limitations an facilitate change or growth or conversion or transformation.

The flowing story is an example of the serenity that comes with acceptance or the lack of serenity that comes with non-acceptance.

There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind , She hated everyone , except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, “if I could only see the world , I will marry you”.

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes for her. When the bandages came off , she was able to see everything , including her  boyfriend.

He asked her, “Now that you can see the world , will you marry me?”

The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind too. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life , led her to refuse to marry him.

Her boyfriend left in tears. Days later wrote a note to her saying, “Take good care of your eyes , my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine.”

Take a moment and reflect on the peacefulness that comes with acceptance – yours and that of others.

God accepts us as we are, not as we should be!!! To proclaim the latter is an empty message because we are never as we should be. We know that in reality, we do not walk a straight path. There are many curves, many wrong decisions which, in the course of life, have brought us to where we are now. It takes a long time to believe that we are accepted and loved by God as we are and in His loving we are healed and transformed!

When God accepts and loves me, I must accept and love myself as well. I cannot be more demanding than God, can I? And when God accepts and loves others, I must accept and love them as well. I cannot be more demanding than God, can I?

Acceptance of God’s acceptance and love is a freeing experience and that brings us serenity and peace.

Accepting yourself, being yourself, rejoicing in yourself, being at home with yourself and being at ease with your incompleteness, limitations, shortcomings and weaknesses are all basic to joyful and fulfilling life, to meaningful relationships, to growing in families and communities, to serenity and peace.

St. Paul says, “By the Grace of God I am what I am.” (I Cor. 15:10)

Two women named “Hooker” wrote letters to Ann Landers: the first one resented her name and the second reacted just the opposite. The second found a sense of humor about her name. When she received crude phone calls asking how much she charged, she replied, “more than you can afford”. The reaction of these two women typifies the reaction people have to the negative things about themselves that they cannot change. They either accept them and learn to be comfortable or resent them and are uncomfortable….they either accept their incompleteness or resent it!

St. Paul says, “We know that God makes all things work together for the good of those who love God.” (Rom. 8:28)

A young girl named Golda was depressed because she was not beautiful. As she grew older, her attitude changed. She says, “I realized that not being beautiful was a blessing in disguise. It forced me to develop inner resources. I came to understand that women who cannot lean on their beauty must work harder….and have other advantages.” This girl was Golda Meir who became the first woman Prime Minister of Israel. She not only accepted herself, but also rejoiced in who and what she was….this brought her serenity and peace.

A key to serenity in less than perfect times is joy in experiencing whatever is now. We can burden ourselves by longing for better times or circumstances or things or possibilities. The Lord’s Grace is boundless and His Grace flows into all circumstances, even into what is seen as undesirable. We must learn to accept the present and find God’s Grace now – Now is the moment of Grace….this brings us serenity and peace.

Take a moment and pray Psalm 3………

The following (Psalm 3) is a psalm of David when he fled from his son, Absalom. To flee from your own son must be a terrible and heart-breaking experience. For David, it was being “in hell” and there he found a new faith in his terrible situation. (And so can we.) David held on to what faith he had left in spite of his feeling that people were laughing at him saying, “There is no help for him in God”. He knew that God was already present in tomorrow. So he could go to sleep peaceful and wake up in the morning without fear.

1    O Lord, how many are my foes!                Foes:     not necessarily an army

        Many are rising against me

2        Many are saying to me,                                          Very challenging thought

“There is no help for you in God.”

3        But you, 0 Lord, are a shield around me,        an impenetrable shield God is

        my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.

4        I cry aloud to the Lord,                                          In God I have power

        and he answers me from his holy hill.

5        I lie down and sleep;                                                God is “In Tomorrow”

        I wake again, for the Lord sustains me.

6        I am not afraid of ten thousands of people,      I will not be defeated

        who have set themselves against me all around.

7        Rise up, O Lord! Deliver me, 0 my God!

For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;        Smack those evil thoughts (enemies)

     you break the teeth of the wicked.            from my mind and heart. Only

                                    God can do it – Mystery of faith

8        Deliverance belongs to the Lord;

may your blessing be on your people!            God will bless His people

If you find yourself in a situation where there are no peaceful persons, strive to be a peaceful person and if you find yourself in a situation where there are no peacemakers, strive to be a peacemaker.

God grant me,

        The serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

        Courage to change the things I can,

        And the Wisdom to know the difference.

        Living one day at a time;

        Enjoying one moment at a time;

        Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.

        Taking as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;

        Trusting that He will make all things right,

        If I surrender to His will;

        That I may be reasonably happy in this life,

        And supremely happy in the next. (Reinhold Niebuhr)

Fr. Gus Tharappel,msfs

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

(Psalm 46:10)

Be in your prayer space, follow the usual steps and settle into silence.

Sit still…..Relax…….Do not rush………

Take a couple of gentle, slow and deep breaths…becoming aware of your breath going in and out… stay focused on this breath of life……

Settle into silence, into peacefulness, into profound silence, into pure joy. Keep listening in such quietness and serenity.

Come to that place, that space within, that place of deep silence – Solitude…to just being here and now without having to accomplish something.

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

Now from the depth of your heart begin to wish your mind well……….

O God, I have come into the quietness and stillness of your presence so that out of this moment, I may take with me a quiet serenity, which will last me through the rough and smooth of my life. Many hours of my days and nights are waiting to be filled a hundred ways with a hundred prayers. But, right now, at this very moment, I am at peace. I sit with you, God. I run with you, God. I walk with you, God. Thank you, God for just being here for me. Amen.

Begin Again…

We begin again our reflections on peacefulness. Our last meditation was on being peaceful, peace-filled and serene…..on keeping our heart in a good place, a peaceful, peace-filled and serene place and on responding to situation from a peaceful, peace-filled and serene heart.

We also prayed “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me…..Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony.” Peace begins with me…from the depth of a peaceful, peace-filled, serene heart. We continue our reflections on peacefulness…..on the serenity within, which has its beginning in the depth of our being.

One of the most basic source of this peacefulness is acceptance of self with all its limitations, weaknesses and goodness and strength….being at ease with the incompleteness of our self.

Even Jesus, the perfect one, had to learn to be at ease with his own incompleteness……sounds paradoxical, the perfect one being at ease with incompleteness!

Jesus had to be born a baby in a manger and be dependent on others! He had to learn the skills of his father….had to struggle with trying, testing times…..had to hunger and thirst and doubt! The perfect one had to confront the imperfect and be at ease, at peace and serene!!!

Being at ease with the incompleteness of our self becomes a source of grace and strength and peace and serenity!

Bering accepted by others also contributes to peacefulness. Acceptance means that the people with whom we live give us a feeling of self-respect, a feeling that of being good and worthwhile.

Acceptance does not mean that everything is alright and perfect. It means that we are given room to grow, to unfold, to outgrow the mistakes of the past. In a way we can say that acceptance is an unveiling. Every one of us is born with many potentialities. But unless they are drawn out by the warm touch of another’s acceptance, they will remain dormant. Acceptance liberates everything that is good and true and worthwhile in us.

Acceptance is not denial of defects, limitations or weaknesses. Denial is non-acceptance. Only acceptance can enable a person to face his defects, weaknesses and limitations an facilitate change or growth or conversion or transformation.

The flowing story is an example of the serenity that comes with acceptance or the lack of serenity that comes with non-acceptance.

There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind , She hated everyone , except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, “if I could only see the world , I will marry you”.

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes for her. When the bandages came off , she was able to see everything , including her  boyfriend.

He asked her, “Now that you can see the world , will you marry me?”

The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind too. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life , led her to refuse to marry him.

Her boyfriend left in tears. Days later wrote a note to her saying, “Take good care of your eyes , my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine.”

Take a moment and reflect on the peacefulness that comes with acceptance – yours and that of others.

God accepts us as we are, not as we should be!!! To proclaim the latter is an empty message because we are never as we should be. We know that in reality, we do not walk a straight path. There are many curves, many wrong decisions which, in the course of life, have brought us to where we are now. It takes a long time to believe that we are accepted and loved by God as we are and in His loving we are healed and transformed!

When God accepts and loves me, I must accept and love myself as well. I cannot be more demanding than God, can I? And when God accepts and loves others, I must accept and love them as well. I cannot be more demanding than God, can I?

Acceptance of God’s acceptance and love is a freeing experience and that brings us serenity and peace.

Accepting yourself, being yourself, rejoicing in yourself, being at home with yourself and being at ease with your incompleteness, limitations, shortcomings and weaknesses are all basic to joyful and fulfilling life, to meaningful relationships, to growing in families and communities, to serenity and peace.

St. Paul says, “By the Grace of God I am what I am.” (I Cor. 15:10)

Two women named “Hooker” wrote letters to Ann Landers: the first one resented her name and the second reacted just the opposite. The second found a sense of humor about her name. When she received crude phone calls asking how much she charged, she replied, “more than you can afford”. The reaction of these two women typifies the reaction people have to the negative things about themselves that they cannot change. They either accept them and learn to be comfortable or resent them and are uncomfortable….they either accept their incompleteness or resent it!

St. Paul says, “We know that God makes all things work together for the good of those who love God.” (Rom. 8:28)

A young girl named Golda was depressed because she was not beautiful. As she grew older, her attitude changed. She says, “I realized that not being beautiful was a blessing in disguise. It forced me to develop inner resources. I came to understand that women who cannot lean on their beauty must work harder….and have other advantages.” This girl was Golda Meir who became the first woman Prime Minister of Israel. She not only accepted herself, but also rejoiced in who and what she was….this brought her serenity and peace.

A key to serenity in less than perfect times is joy in experiencing whatever is now. We can burden ourselves by longing for better times or circumstances or things or possibilities. The Lord’s Grace is boundless and His Grace flows into all circumstances, even into what is seen as undesirable. We must learn to accept the present and find God’s Grace now – Now is the moment of Grace….this brings us serenity and peace.

Take a moment and pray Psalm 3………

The following (Psalm 3) is a psalm of David when he fled from his son, Absalom. To flee from your own son must be a terrible and heart-breaking experience. For David, it was being “in hell” and there he found a new faith in his terrible situation. (And so can we.) David held on to what faith he had left in spite of his feeling that people were laughing at him saying, “There is no help for him in God”. He knew that God was already present in tomorrow. So he could go to sleep peaceful and wake up in the morning without fear.

1    O Lord, how many are my foes!                Foes:     not necessarily an army

        Many are rising against me

2        Many are saying to me,                    Very challenging thought

“There is no help for you in God.”

3        But you, 0 Lord, are a shield around me,        an impenetrable shield God is

        my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.

4        I cry aloud to the Lord,                    In God I have power

        and he answers me from his holy hill.

5        I lie down and sleep;                    God is “In Tomorrow”

        I wake again, for the Lord sustains me.

6        I am not afraid of ten thousands of people,         I will not be defeated

        who have set themselves against me all around.

7        Rise up, O Lord! Deliver me, 0 my God!

For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;        Smack those evil thoughts (enemies)

     you break the teeth of the wicked.            from my mind and heart. Only

                                    God can do it – Mystery of faith

8        Deliverance belongs to the Lord;

may your blessing be on your people!            God will bless His people

If you find yourself in a situation where there are no peaceful persons, strive to be a peaceful person and if you find yourself in a situation where there are no peacemakers, strive to be a peacemaker.

God grant me,

        The serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

        Courage to change the things I can,

        And the Wisdom to know the difference.

        Living one day at a time;

        Enjoying one moment at a time;

        Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.

        Taking as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;

        Trusting that He will make all things right,

        If I surrender to His will;

        That I may be reasonably happy in this life,

        And supremely happy in the next. (Reinhold Niebuhr)

Fr. Gus Tharappel,msfs

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

(Psalm 46:10)

Be in your prayer space, follow the usual steps and settle into silence.

Sit still…..Relax…….Do not rush………

Take a couple of gentle, slow and deep breaths…becoming aware of your breath going in and out… stay focused on this breath of life……

Settle into silence, into peacefulness, into profound silence, into pure joy. Keep listening in such quietness and serenity.

Come to that place, that space within, that place of deep silence – Solitude…to just being here and now without having to accomplish something.

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

Now from the depth of your heart begin to wish your mind well……….

O God, I have come into the quietness and stillness of your presence so that out of this moment, I may take with me a quiet serenity, which will last me through the rough and smooth of my life. Many hours of my days and nights are waiting to be filled a hundred ways with a hundred prayers. But, right now, at this very moment, I am at peace. I sit with you, God. I run with you, God. I walk with you, God. Thank you, God for just being here for me. Amen.

Begin Again…

We begin again our reflections on peacefulness. Our last meditation was on peacefulness as an inner force that moves us to diffuse tension, conflict, bitterness, strife and other such slings and arrows. Peaceful people can bridge the gap, heal the wounds, sweeten the bitterness…..such people do “God-like” work and they are “God-like” persons – they are “sons of God”. Peaceful people are “peacemakers”. Peacemaking is such a profound activity that the peacemaker becomes “son of God”.

This has something in common with the Hindu and Buddhist doctrine of “ahimsa”, which means living in a way, which does not cause harm to anyone or anything. The practice of “ahimsa” requires and induces a pure and merciful heart and a frugal, simple and ‘poor’ way of life. It requires great wisdom and insight because it is not just a good intention. It requires you to know that your actions will not cause harm and that they will contribute to the highest good of all. This calls for discipline.

Peace is the most human dream of all….Peace was the dream of the Jews…….Peace was always the dream of Christians…Peace was the dream of all sages….. Peace is the dream of all religions…..humanity has a common good which belongs to all: Peace.

Jesus said, “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)

Peace is God’s gift…… Peace is our dream….Peace is our faith…Peace is our hope….Peace is our love…Peace is our passion….such peace cannot be dissipated by men and women…nor by war and violence…….it’s God’s gift, which lives in the heart of all!

Abide in these thought for a few minutes

The dream of peace lives in the heart of humanity even when they are living within the most atrocious wars….Peace stands firm as a faith, as a hope, as a love, as a passion……

A great Russian mystic, St. Seraphim of Sarov used to say: “acquire peace in you and thousands around you will find it”. We must never underestimate the force of that peace that comes from the heart!

Christian peace is a preventive peace…it is a peace that resists war and that longs and waits for the day when weapons will be silent.

Welcome the gift of peace that comes from the Gospel…the gift that Jesus promised…read and pray and live the Gospel every day…take the Gospel seriously!

Those who read and pray the Gospel must keep their hearts open to peace: to the great peace and to the little daily peace.

Dream peace and let your dream come to life! Dream peace and discover that you have a force, a power inside…a force that reconciles people, a force that resists violence, a force that tolerates differences, a force that brings harmony into chaos, a force that helps you transcend differences………a force that helps you to gradually and tenaciously build peace!

Peace is possible! Believe it! Love it! Be passionate about it!

Abide in these thought for a few minutes

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.

With God as our Father, Brothers all are we.

Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me; Let this be the moment now.

With every step I take, Let this be my solemn vow;

To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.

Let there be peace on earth. And Let it begin with me.

With God as our Father, Brothers all are we.

Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony.

Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. Let this be the moment now.

With every step I take…….

Pace begins with me…from the depth of a peaceful, peace-filled, serene heart. It begin now and continues to grow and spread with every step I take……This calls us to nurture peacefulness of heart as the following g story reveals…….

There was a time (may be, even now) when most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops.

One of the farmers constantly advertised for hired hands. Without much success. Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, seemed interested. “Are you a good farm hand?” the farmer asked him. “Well, I can sleep when the wind blows,” answered the little man.

The farmer, being desperate for help, hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man’s work. Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand’s sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, “Get up!  A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!” The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, “No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows.”

Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured.  Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to sleep while the wind blew.
When you’re prepared spiritually, mentally and physically, you have nothing to fear. You can definitely be in peace. You sleep when the wind blows through your life. The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he had secured the farm against the storm. We secure ourselves against the storms of life by grounding ourselves in the Word of God.
We don’t need to understand, we just need to hold His hand to have peace in the middle of storms.

Remember Jesus inviting his men to rest a while (Mark 6:30-32) after a day’s hard and busy work. Jesus and his disciples went to a deserted place to be by themselves. People came to know about it and reached the place ahead of them. Jesus had compassion on those who were hungry and tired and he fed them with five loaves and a couple of fish.

Jesus saw people in need and reached out to them. He and his disciples had gone to the place for rest. Seeing people in need, Jesus, moved with compassion, ministered to them. Jesus could do so because he was in a good place…He was in peaceful and peace-filled place. He could reach out to the needy without resentments, without compliant.

Then Jesus went up the mountain by himself to pray. In the middle of the night, seeing his disciples on troubled waters, he came to them and gave them courage and comfort and called them to trust in him (Mark 6:53-56). He could do so because he was in a good place, in a peaceful and peace-filled place. He could reach out to the needy without resentments, without compliant.

Be confident. Find peace and serenity in the Lord. The Lord will be there in troubles times. Turn to him for strength and support in testing times.

Jesus and his disciples crossed over to Gennesareth and people came from all over to touch and be touched by Jesus…..All kinds of people found the power of healing in that touch – the healing touch of Jesus. Mark tells us that all who touched Jesus got well. He could reach out and touch others because he was in a good place, in a peaceful and peace-filled place. He could reach out to the needy without resentments, without compliant.

May your touch be affirming, compassionate, encouraging, gentle, healing, kind, loving, sensitive, supportive, transforming…..Be peaceful, peace-filled and serene. Keep your heart in a good place and may that place be peaceful, peace-filled and serene. .

The following story tells us more about responding to situation from a peaceful, peace-filled and serene heart.

A wise old gentleman retired and purchased a modest home near a junior high school. He spent the first few weeks of his retirement in peace and contentment. Then a new school year began. The very next afternoon three young boys, full of youthful, after-school enthusiasm, came down his street, beating merrily on every trash can they encountered. The crashing percussion continued day after day, until finally the wise old man decided it was time to take some action.

The next afternoon, he walked out to meet the young percussionists as they banged their way down the street. Stopping them, he said, “You kids are a lot of fun. I like to see you express your
exuberance like that. In fact, I use to do the same thing when I was your age. Will you do me a favor? I’ll give you each a dollar if you’ll promise to come around every day and do your thing.” The kids were elated and continued to do a bang-up job on the trashcans.

After a few days, the old-timer greeted the kids again, but this time he had a sad smile on his face. “This recession’s really putting a big dent in my income,” he told them. “From now on, I’ll
only be able to pay you 50 cents to beat on the cans.” The noisemakers were obviously displeased, but they did accept his offer and continued their afternoon riot. A few days later, the wily retiree approached them again as they drummed their way down the street.

“Look,” he said, “I haven’t received my Social Security check yet, so I’m not going to be able to give you more than 25 cents. Will that be okay?” “A lousy quarter?” the drum leader exclaimed. “If you think we’re going to waste our time, beating these cans around for a quarter, you’re nuts! No way, mister. We quit!”

And the old man enjoyed peace and serenity for the rest of his days.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers: they will be called sons of God”
(Mt. 5:9)

Blessed are the peacemakers: they will bring forgiveness and healing.

Blessed are the peacemakers: they will bring wholeness and integrity

Blessed are the peacemakers: they will bring harmony, unity, and purity.

Blessed are the peacemakers: they will bring their best to the world.

Blessed are the peacemakers: they will bring the best out of others.

Blessed are the peacemakers: their presence brings joy.

Blessed are the peacemakers: they bring no harm to others.

The heart of peacemakers is like the heart of God – LOVE, pure and simple.

If you find yourself in a situation where there are no peaceful persons, strive to be a peaceful person and if you find yourself in a situation where there are no peacemakers, strive to be a peacemaker.

Abide in these thought for a few minutes

God grant me,

        The serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

        Courage to change the things I can,

        And the Wisdom to know the difference.

        Living one day at a time;

        Enjoying one moment at a time;

        Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.

        Taking as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;

        Trusting that He will make all things right,

        If I surrender to His will;

        That I may be reasonably happy in this life,

        And supremely happy in the next. (Reinhold Niebuhr)

Fr. Gus Tharappel,msfs

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

(Psalm 46:10)

Be in your prayer space, follow the usual steps and settle into silence.

Sit still…..Relax…….Do not rush………

Take a couple of gentle, slow and deep breaths…becoming aware of your breath going in and out… stay focused on this breath of life……

Settle into silence, into peacefulness, into profound silence, into pure joy. Keep listening in such quietness and serenity. Come to that place, that space within, that place of deep silence – Solitude…to just being here and now without having to accomplish something.

Now from the depth of your heart begin to wish your mind well……….

Gently…Reflectively…Pray….

Slow me down, Lord

Ease the pounding of my heart

by the quieting of my mind.

Steady my hurried pace with a vision of the eternal reach of time.

Give me, amid the confusion of the day,

the calmness of the everlasting hills.

Break the tensions of my nerves and muscles,

with the soothing music of the singing streams that live in my memory.

Help me to know the magical, restoring power of sleep.

Teach me the art of taking minute vacations of slowing down

to look at a flower, to chat with a friend, to pat a dog,

to read a few lines from a good book.

Slow me down, Lord,

And inspire me to send my roots deep into the soil of life’s enduring values,

that I may grow toward the stars of my greater destiny. (Kristone)

Peacefulness……

We begin our reflections on “Peacefulness” our theme for “Reflection-2010″. We want to explore and deepen our understanding of Peacefulness and all the virtues that emerge from 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 day 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 day and the days ahead be amazing, fascinating, marvelous, wonderful and hope-filled days 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 day and all that come with it….in your own way, in humble, simple, may be even inadequate words………..

Begin Again…

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

Blessed are 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. However, 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.

Peacefulness 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.

Peacefulness 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. Peacefulness is a force that empowers you, to gradually and tenaciously, build peace with all!

Open your heart and your mind will open. An open mind will bring peacefulness of heart. We must never underestimate the force of the peace that comes from the heart! The heart of peacemakers is like the heart of God – LOVE, pure and simple.

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.

I pray that you may be peace-filled and peaceful!

Fr. Gus Tharappel, msfs

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

Be in your prayer space, follow the usual steps and settle into silence.

Take a couple of gentle, slow and deep breaths…becoming aware of your breath going in and out… stay focused on this breath of life……

Breathe in all that is of God and from God…all that is true, honest, pure, admirable, noble, decent, virtuous, worthy of praise, good, loving, kind – all that deserves respect..

Breathe out all that is not of God and from God……..

Settle into silence, into peacefulness, into profound silence, into pure joy. Keep listening in quietness, stillness and serenity.

Come to that place, that space within, that place of deep silence – Solitude…to just being here and now, without having to accomplish something.

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

Now from the depth of your heart begin to wish your mind well……….

Thank you for the gift of another day……..

Thank you for silence, stillness, solitude……………

Thank you for blessing and grace………

Thank you for just being, for me, God.

Meditative Prayer

O God, I have come into the quietness and stillness of your presence so that out of this moment, I may take with me a quiet serenity, which will last me through the rough and smooth of my life. Many hours of my days and nights are waiting to be filled a hundred ways with a hundred prayers. But, right now, at this very moment, I am at peace. I walk with you, God. I sit with you, God, I run with you, God. Thank you, God. Amen.

I have come with gratitude and with a prayer in my heart …….

• for the talents and the abundance of gifts that you have blessed me with………..
• for the faith that moves, stirs and grows in my heart…….
• for the many people who have been instruments of your goodness in my life…..
• for the moments that I have known your presence in my life….
• for the times I have been instrument of your goodness and grace and love……
• for the miracles of your love that I have witnessed…..
• for the wonder of your creation all around me…….

I have come with hope and a prayer in my heart for trust……..

• when I am afraid and lose confidence in me and in you…….
• when the busyness and schedules of my day press upon me and I become tense and nervous and doubtful…..
• when I doubt your presence in difficult moments in my life…..
• when I lose sight of your grace and blessings in my life…..
• when emptiness, loneliness and other such slings and arrows come my way…….
• when I struggle to be good and share your goodness with others

I have come seeking you with a prayer in my heart……..

• deep within my being, deep in my heart where justice and truth, love and peace embrace………….
• in the midst of my daily activities and the many things-to-do that keep me on the move…..
• among many people who come into my life……………..
• in the successes and disappointments of my daily activities……..
• in the books I read, in the news I hear, in the noise of the surroundings……..
• in the truth I discover, in the uncertainties I encounter……..
• in the wonderful people and in the not so wonderful people I meet…

I have come affirming with a simple and humble prayer in my heart…..

• that you are worth my constant search…….
• that you are in my life every moment of the day….
• that you walk with me as I walk toward you…..
• that you carry me through when I am unable to walk……
• that you pick me up and put me on the road when I stumble and fall…..
• that you are my strength in time of sorrow, hope in times of distress, comfort in times of confusion, safety in times of danger….
• that you are worth my sacrifice, my letting go off whatever I hang on to………
• that you seek me, trust me, love me unconditionally……..
• that you wait for me to welcome me home………
• that you, my God, are my home. Amen

May it be so. May your will happen.

And, finally, Lord, I surrender to you and your way.

Back to the top

Pray this again, gently, slowly

This time bring significant others into your prayer

You have prayed,

I have come with gratitude….

I have come with hope….

I have come seeking…

I have come affirming……

Now write your own prayer by completing the following sentence:

I have come………..

May it be so. May your will happen.

And, finally, Lord, I surrender to you and your way.

Fr. Gus Tharappel,msfs