“In you, Lord, I have found my peace.” What do you long for, really long for, truly long for? What can’t you live without? What does your heart seek, really need, really hope for? What do you need to receive? Fame, fortune, status, prestige? They won’t lead you to it – you will still long for the one thing that is lacking in your life. Money, prosperity, longevity, success? They can’t guarantee it – they will leave you unsatisfied. Peace is something we all long for. We look for peace, we desire it, we hope for it, we need it. Peace, peace, more peace, endless peace, peace always. We search for that peace in our hearts, we want peace of mind, we long for peaceful moments – peace, peace, more peace, endless peace, peace always. The question then becomes how do we obtain it? Where do we begin to search for it? How can we hold on to it? Peace, peace, more peace, endless peace, peace always. Peace is not something we experience often and for some it may be something they never seem to achieve. We don’t know what peace looks like or can remember what it feels like. We can only long for it, pray for it, hope that it will come soon. Some may ask, “What is peace?” – “Is it really possible for me?” The answer is yes. In every moment there can be peace – even in a difficult decision there can be peace – even throughout the day there can be peace – even for a life time there can be peace. There can be endless peace of heart, peace of mind, peace in our homes, peace in our work, joyous peace in ministry. Peace, peace, more peace, endless peace, peace always. We tend to think of peace as an absence of war or moments of nonviolence. Yes, we should pray for that always. But the peace we are ask to consider is true peace. The invitation extended to us from God for an everlasting peace; a peace for all eternity. It is the peace that Christ offers to poor sinners. It is the peace that the Holy Spirit brings. It is the peace given by the Father. It is the peace exchanged by you and me. It is the peace of being united to God; two hearts undivided, reconciled, united in love —“Lamb of God, you who take away the sins of the world, grant us peace” – peace, more peace, endless peace, peace always.
Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time