War For Peace

July 14: Monday of Week 15 of Ordinary Time, Year A-II:

Isaiah 1:10-17; Psalm 50:8-9, 16-17, 21, 23; Matthew 10:34 to 11:1

Thoughts to help us surrender to Jesus expressing himself through us in ministry.

War For Peace

I have come to bring not peace but the sword.” Matthew 10:34

Jesus did come to bring peace. The word occurs 92 times in the New Testament. As “priests in the Priest” we have received “the ministry of reconciliation” from God who “reconciled us to Himself through Christ” (2Corinthians 5:18).

Jesus told his disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” But he added: “Not as the world gives do I give to you” (John 14:27). Christ’s peace is inseparable from unity, goodness (love), and truth.

These are the “transcendentals”—characteristics that “transcend” all differences in being. Anything that exists as a being must be one (identifiable as a cohesive whole), good (have value or purpose), and true (intelligible). In the Church we attribute our goodness to the Father, truth to the Son/Word, and unity to the Holy Spirit. Peace requires all three.

For peace we must accept with hope the goodness of “dying to self” as a goal. This can cause conflict.

We must agree on truth with faith. That is not easy.

And we must “walk by the Spirit” in love (Galatians 5:25), which puts us in opposition to “the flesh.” James wrote (4:1): “Don’t the quarrels and conflicts among you come from your desires that battle within you?” For peace we must conquer ourselves.

Our priesthood is to lead people gently to peace through war.

PRAY: “Lord, give us your peace.”

PRACTICE: Try to live in unity, truth and love.