As we prepare to observe the 15th anniversary of the terrible events of September 11, 2001, we seem to live in a world enmeshed in war, violence and almost daily-occurring atrocities. Is this all we can expect? How can this change?
To answer these very big questions, we have to take a look at things the way God does: by starting with very small things.
Yesterday, September 8th, the Church calendar marked the Nativity ("Birthday") of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. Although we don't know with certainty that it was the actual date, it is marked at 9 months after the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (which, as you know, celebrates the conception without sin of Mary and not her son, Jesus - that is marked by the feast of the Annunciation on March 25th). Far more important than discussions about when it took place is to note that it occurred at all!What is also important to note is that, just like most children, while Mary's birth was a very special day for the parents and family but probably not of great note anywhere else. Yet this event - especially with God's prevenient grace of Mary being born without Original Sin - was a humble beginning of events that completely changed the order of Creation and brought about the great victory of God's salvation.
In the same way, the great objective of peace in the world will come, not from a diplomatic conference table, but by being held in and expressed through the heart by people of good will. As the Pope Francis noted in his homily on the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary: "Peace is a gift, it is a handcrafted gift that we must work for every day; but doing so in the small things, in daily ‘littleness.’ Great manifestations for peace, great international encounters, are not enough if peace is not then made in little things. On the contrary, you can speak of peace with splendid words, putting together a great conference… But if in your little things, in your heart, there is no peace, in your family there is no peace, in your neighbourhood there is no peace, in your place of work there is no peace, there will not be peace in the world.”
The Holy Father suggested that we should ask God for the grace of “the wisdom to make peace, in the little things of each day, but aiming at the horizons of the whole of humanity,” especially today, in which “we are living a war and all are seeking peace.” And in the meantime, he said, it would be good to start with this question:
“How is your heart, today? Is it at peace? If it is not at peace, before speaking of peace, make sure your own heart is at peace. How is your family, today? Is it at peace? If you are not able to bring peace to your family, your rectory, your congregation, bringing it more peace, then words of peace for the world are not enough. This is the question that I would like to ask today: How is the heart of each one of us? Is it at peace? How is the family of each one of us? Is it at peace? That’s how it is, isn’t it? To achieve peace in the world.”
Holy Mary, Mother of God and Queen of Peace, pray for us.
In response to the race-related violence that has gripped our nation in recent weeks, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has declared today (9/9/16) to be a Day of Prayer for Peace in our Communities. Consider taking a minute of silence sometime today to offer a prayer that God will give us the grace to recognize Jesus in all we meet today, regardless of race, language or culture.
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Do you like these weekly eCommunity mailings and think that family members or friends could benefit? Invite them either by having them text VisitationBrick to 84576 on their smartphone or by signing up on our parish website athttp://visitationrcchurch.org/ - we'd love to have them join us!
If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.