From the Deacon's Desk

Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Each day, I reflect upon a word or a phrase inspired by the readings of the day. I encourage you to do the same and perhaps incorporate that word or phrase into your daily prayer.

“…for now his greatness and majesty shall reach to the ends of the earth; we shall be at peace.” (Micah 5:1-4)

AT PEACE: The reading makes sense – the people I know that have the strongest faith – the closest relationship with God – seem to be the most at peace.

How does that knowledge help us in our day-to-day lives?

I think it challenges us in two ways: to search for peace and to open ourselves up to God’s loving presence.

We live in stressful times. We allow the chaos of the world to steal our peace. We are unsettled and anxious. The best word I can think of to describe the feeling is that we sometimes feel “hollow.” We can’t quite put our finger on the reason, but we know we are not at peace.

Those are the times we need to care for ourselves. We need to go to the places or engage in the experiences in which we know God is present – where we have found Him in the past and have confidence He still resides. We need to immerse ourselves in our artwork, listen to our favorite music, be active in our faith community, call friends to meet for coffee, get out on lakes in rowboats.

We know God is in those places and experiences, so we must return to Him. It is there, in his loving embrace, that we will find peace.

Alternatively, we occasionally – despite the chaos, anxiety, and hopelessness – experience an unexpected sense of peace. It catches us off-guard, but suddenly our hearts are filled and a calm comes over us. Perhaps in the midst of a terrible morning, someone gives you a smile and a warm hug to greet you; someone compliments you or affirms you in some way and you feel valued; you read something that gives you pause or brings you joy.

It is at those times we need to consider the possibility that these were not chance encounters. God was smiling at you and hugging you. God was working through the person that made you feel valued. God was directing you to whatever brought you that moment of joy.

We shouldn’t view our moments of peace as chance encounters, but rather as God tapping us on the shoulder and assuring us of his love, attempting to embrace us.

When we are in the midst of God’s love and open to receiving it, we will find peace. When we are at peace and take the time to consider its source, we will find love. Peace and love are not interchangeable, but they are intertwined.

God is both.