The world cannot give the peace that Christ speaks of, and no amount of worldly accruements can give us this peace which we all seek in the inner most recesses of our heart. Some may mistake a neediness to be loved as gaining peace, if this were so then why the high ratio of divorced couples?
No one has the power to force others to love one another, for love is not overbearing nor does it try and control that which is beyond its capacities, for a person cannot enforce its own will upon another.
A soul that is at peace in the world irrespective of its own needs, and that endeavours to place the need of others before it's own, that is the soul who has become the reflection of the Divine. This quality of person has gained the peace that Christ speaks of which can be gained in no other way than by gratuitous Gift from Above. A spirit that is at peace with itself, within the world and the culture it inhabits, this is the person that is like balm to the afflicted heart who longs to be accepted and loved and yet finds itself unloved and unwanted by all.
For in all that we do if we lack peace, then this will soon show itself in our unfaithfulness to Christ's Teachings and in our actions towards others. We can all have moments of kindness, but without peace of heart, kindness will remain just that, lasting but a moment, then it is gone. For as St. Vincent de Paul says, "The very convicts, amongst whom I lived can be gained over; and in no other way. When I spoke sharply to them I spoilt everything, and on the contrary, when I praised them for being resigned to their hard lot and pitied their sufferings; when I kissed their chains, and showed that I felt for them, then they listened to me, then they gave glory to God, and then they sought to put themselves into a state of grace."
Saint Vincent de Paul teaches us that though we may speak the Truth if it is delivered from a spirit of harshness then no matter the truth it will be rejected by a person that has already suffered much. It is also a timely reminder that we in and of ourselves cannot create our own peace nor share this false 'peace' with others.
But how do we attain this peace in a hectic and violent world? It can only be gained through a spirit of detachment, in that we focus all our attention on what is pleasing to God, rather than what is pleasing to us. Detachment does not mean spiritual coldness nor the clinical asceticism so favoured by a few who misunderstand the fiery torrent of God's Divine Love, and thereby remain unchanged under this torrent of Love Divine.
A soul that has detached itself from all worldly needs is a soul that is truly free to love as we were designed too, not in a spirit of self seeking but to serve others, as Christ showed us when he washed the feet of the Apostles, when He said, "Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me 'teacher' and 'master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do."
We learn through the actions of Jesus that in order to gain His Peace we need to detach from a longing to please man and learn to please God, which invariably does bring joy to others. It is when we detach ourselves from emotionalism that we gain true peace of heart which is not held hostage to the tyranny of memory, nor at the mercy of emotions which remain entrapped in negativism. And once again St. Vincent reminds us, when it comes to the soul and how it affects others, "It is not possible, that we preachers should bring forth good fruits, if we, like barren soil, only produce thistles; there must be in us something attractive, something pleasant, or we shall repel everyone."
For the soul that labours and seeks its rest from worldliness, shall find the peace that is lay wanting and ask God that for which He longs to give His children, the Peace that only Christ, gives.
The soul that has gained this great treasure, the Peace of Christ can only dwell and live its meaning in the soul that loves for Loves sake.
Peace of Christ to ALL
Copyright © 2005 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.
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