Article written by Sister Marci Blum, OSF
Director, Shalom Retreat Center
Dubuque, Iowa

"Freeing Us for Peace"

We send and receive Christmas cards with the words, “May you have a Christmas filled with peace.” We hear the Christmas story when the angels sang to the shepherds, “Glory to God in the highest and peace to all of good will.”

Words express what we long for in our hearts. Yet in society today and in the world at large, there is less than peace when violence towards others seems to predominate in the news. Wars, domestic abuse, greed, you name it-fill the headlines. Yet we continually pray for peace, demonstrate for peace and speak of peace.

Words alone do not bring about peace. Words should lead to action. In the Gospel story from Luke, Jesus preaches in the synagogue that he is sent to bring good news to the poor, free captives, give sight to the blind and set the oppressed free. (Luke 4:16-19) In another passage, John the Baptist sends two of his disciples to Jesus to ask if he is the Messiah. Jesus responds that the blind are given sight, the lame walk, the deaf hear, the lepers are cleansed, the dead are raised and the poor have the gospel proclaimed to them. (Luke 7:18-23)

Christ expressed the works he did to bring peace to people.  We, too, are called and challenged to do the same. When we bring a caring presence to others, when we show a kindness to people, when we listen to another who is in pain, we bring life to those in need. We can further peace by advocating for justice and fairness for the voiceless. We then are set free to be more than who we are. Dalai Lama writes, "Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free."

We find that peace when we realize that we need each other. Peace comes to us when we are in unity with-community-with others.  Peace occurs when there is inclusion of all around the table.  Mother Teresa put it succinctly, "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."

Finally, in the words of Pope John Paul II, "Let us not accept violence as the way of peace. Let us instead begin by respecting true freedom: the resulting peace will be able to satisfy the world's expectations, for it will be a peace built on justice, a peace founded on the incomparable dignity of the free human being."

We long for peace that heals.
We long for peace that frees us.
We long for peace that frees others.
We long for peace that is compassionate.
We long for peace that is understanding.
We long for peace that cares.

Christ promises us, “Peace I give to you.” 




To view more about Peace and Nonviolence, see Who We Are-Justice Advocacy, or click on the links below.