Openness to His Voice
As we prepare for the consecration of Russia and the Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary tomorrow, the words of today’s readings are quite a call for me. “Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people.” (Jeremiah 7:23) “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” (Psalm 95:7-8). Lord open the ear of my heart. May I listen and respond to your voice. Soften my heart to be receptive to conversion – in my own life first. I want to unite my way to your way, to trust in you with more abandonment. What can I do differently to bring my life in closer alignment to your way? This Lent, help me as I walk closer with you to make the big or small changes that open me to hear your voice and soften my heart.
What Does He Say?
In today’s Gospel, Jesus responds to the people in the crowds by saying, “If it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Lk. 11:20). Lord may your Kingdom come! Come and drive away the evil that is triggering the current situation! May your Kingdom come, first in my own heart, and in the hearts of all those who will be open to this grace. I pray that you will not be able to say of us, “Faithfulness has disappeared; the word itself is banished from their speech.” (Jeremiah 7:28) Turn our hearts to you. Help us to be faithful. If I can be your Kingdom here for someone, I bring your Kingdom alive here on earth. Help me to be your Kingdom, be conquered by your heart, your love, your life.
Peace?
A friend recently asked me, “What gives you peace?” It’s a good question. A question I think all of us have been asking ourselves recently. The “peace on earth” we all hope for will come, but I tend to think it will be around the end of time. Peace without conflict is not eternal. It doesn’t last. And, while we do unite in prayer for peace, Jesus himself said that wasn’t the peace he was bringing: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword.” (Mt. 10:34) Well, then, what kind of peace is he bringing?
The last line of Zechariah’s canticle reads, “In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Lk. 1:78-79). Isaiah calls the Messiah the “Prince of Peace.” (Is. 9:5) Toward the end of his earthly life, Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you.” (Jn 14:27) He then went on to suffer his Passion and death. What peace did he come to bring?
He comes to give us HIS peace. Can we pray this prayer? “Lord, give me YOUR peace! Give me a peace that comes only from you.” This peace cannot be caused by external factors, because if it was, when those factors change, peace could be lost. The world cannot give us the peace we seek.
Peace still comes to us, amidst this moment of tragedy and fear. It is not my peace I receive, but His peace that he gives me, as a gift. More than that, it is He, Himself who comes to us so we can receive Him. I invite us all to seek Peace by seeking Jesus this Lenten season. May we hold on to these words of Our Lord, “I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” (Jn. 16:33)
Thank you for this reflection, Nicole, I needed to hear this today. I liked how you noted that peace without conflict is not eternal. Thank you for urging us to pray for the gift of His peace. God bless.