ISAIAH 7: 10-14
PSALM 23: 1-6 R. v. 7.10
ROMANS 1: 1-7
MATTHEW 1: 18-24
A week ago, we witnessed the tragic horror of the massacre of so many people at Bondi Beach. And there are also so many conflicts and terrorist attacks in the Holy Land and around the world. There is a sense of helplessness in all this.
In the face of this, let us remember that the season of Advent and the coming season of Christmas are very much a time for praying for peace. How then do we find peace in the face of the many conflicts in our lives?
The starting point is found in our prayer, for we cannot achieve peace by ourselves but only through God. For Jesus came to bring us God’s peace, a peace the world cannot give. But prayer must be accompanied with trust in God.
Today’s readings give us a contrasting respond to God by two people. In the first reading, King Ahaz was asked by the prophet Isaiah to trust in God instead of making an alliance with his neighbouring countries to attack Egypt. Ahaz disobeyed and was destroyed by the evil in his heart.
Joseph in Matthew’s gospel today is an example of a person who was at peace within himself and with God and with those around him, simply because he was able to trust in God and to put others before him. He struggled with what Mary told him, yet he cared for her. He did not understand but he trusted in God’s command through the angel. Through his obedience he became a participant in God’s plan for the salvation of humankind.
It is so easy to point to the failings of world leaders in all that is wrong in the world but forget that we too have our own personal conflicts. We cannot demand for peace in the world if we ourselves are not people of peace. There is a hymn that goes: “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.”
How often in our own personal conflicts do we see the other person as the obstacle to reconciliation and not ourselves. We can end up becoming impatient and frustrated and even bitter. Often it leads us to become judgmental and aggressive towards those we are in conflict with. Where we end up is not peace but further conflict.
Christmas is a time to seek God’s peace in our life. Real peace will be possible for us no matter what we face if we allow the love of God into our lives. The deeper our relationship with God grows, we become like His Son Jesus and we will find the peace within, no matter what conflict we face.
A person with the peace of Christ will know what is important in life and will never despair, even in the face of conflict. And a person with the peace of Christ
Will always seek to resolve and not confront where there is a conflict
Will be patient and not be aggressive
Will try to understand and not become judgmental.
Will bring mercy where there is sin,
Will bring hope where there is despair
And will bring love where there is hatred.
At Bondi beach we saw the evil of hatred take the lives of so many. Some unfortunately will see only hatred and revenge as the answer. They only become more victims of evil of the massacre at Bondi. They let the same evil of hatred of the two terrorists into their hearts to destroy them.
May the love of God from the cross be our answer to the evil of hatred in people.
Merredin Catholic Parish 