Peace be with you: Peace in the world

Peace in the world

Peace in the Church presence

Although God is present everywhere, Seeking God’s presence in His temple brings unique blessings. There are many psalms in the Bible describe how to enter into His temple and courts. They indicate that one must worship God with joy and with happy songs. It is appropriate and fitting to see the Heavenly father in His temple. In His temple, there is peace, joy, happiness, and praises, which can quench the thirst of human heart, mind and soul. Some times one can experience physical, mental, social, and spiritual healing also in His presence. Consider going to church as going to the father’s house because our Heavenly Father’s presence is visible in the church, which consists of God’s presence in the church, shepherds, leaders, and in believers.

Every year I used to spend at least few days with my father and mother who lives very far from my city. It is a common experience that my father gets very excited of my every visit and he makes my visit as a family function. He always celebrates my visit by inviting all my brothers and sisters home and make it as a special family event. This is a common experience for all those who have experienced father’s love. In the same way, Heavenly father loving presence waits for us all the day and night. He treats us with a special care when we keep ourselves in His presence at His sanctuary. His mercy surrounds us with a divine peace and joy. He never sends us home with empty handed, but always blesses us according to His will. Whatever may be the body, mind, and soul status we hold when we enter into His church, when we leave we experience a serine peace. There is peace in the church presence where His redemptive kingdom reigns.


Presence of our church, universal Catholic Church, and presence of all the sacraments in the church are the merciful presence of God for the world. Above all God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son to the world, which is the highest level of mercy. It is in His mercy, we live everyday and our salvation depends upon His mercy. So let us try our level best to appreciate, experience, and live by the mercy of God in this earthly life. There is nothing impossible for God's mercy.

















Reflections on redemptive presence of church
Gospel readings
John Chapter 17
Acts chapters 1-3
Read the above gospels reflect individually or in a group in the following perspectives

1. Identify the Redemptive purpose in the presence of church in the world. (Why? / How?)

2. Discuss the perspectives of the presence of church influences your individual life. (Why? / How?)

3. Discuss the perspectives of the presence of Church influences your family life. (Why? / How?)

4. Discuss the perspectives of the presence of church influences the world. (Why? / How?)











Peace in Goodness of God in the world

God is good and the world is full of His goodness. Seeking, acknowledging, recognizing, understanding, and discerning the Goodness in the world is a gift from God and it is a gift of the Holy Spirit, knowing the goodness will result in peace. Seeking goodness gives hope in the life. Acknowledging goodness gives meaning to the life. Recognizing goodness provides inner joy and peace. Understanding goodness provides happiness and motivation in life. Discerning goodness leads to the will of God in life. Appreciating goodness makes one to accept and value oneself and others for what they are. Admitting goodness in the world is the acknowledgment and profession of faith in witnessing the creation of God and His image in His creations. God is good and His creation and creatures are good because it has been clearly recorded in Genesis chapter of the bible that He created them and He found them good, as He was pleased with His creations.

It is easy to appreciate the goodness when everything looks bright, beautiful, and fruitful. How to see the goodness in life when things seem to reflect the opposite of the above mentioned state? Is it possible to appreciate goodness in the face of difficult and demanding situations? Is it possible to recognize goodness in conflicting, contradictory, confusing, and hatred infused modern worldviews and perspectives? The answer is yes and that takes faith courage, love, hope, and trust in God, which will inflame oneself with zeal to seek God’s presence and His goodness in day today life.
First, to identify goodness in everything one must become like a child or posses a childlike heart. Only an open mind with freedom in thinking can appreciate goodness in simple life. A child believes the parents with out any questions or doubts. In addition, the child has a fearless heart to appreciate the goodness. It has no fear or vengeance. A child gets excited about all the things it sees or experiences, because the child considers everything as good. This state of mind results in positive attitude. This positive attitude opens the eyes for goodness. Thus having, developing, or maintaining a child like heart and attitude is the primary essentiality to identify the goodness around oneself.
Another requirement to understand the Goodness of God in the midst of life situations is acknowledging and trusting God’s presence all the time. It is a state of mind or disposition of life or an attitude towards life; a total surrender to the will of God; a continuous search for God’s presence in day today life. The church history is filled with the life testimonies of saints who spend their life in the mission of finding God’s presence in fellow men and creatures. The men and women who are inflamed with the love of God have the ability to radiate, relate, recover, recognize, and appreciate the goodness in everything. This is a supreme quality of faith, which is manifested in all the saints’ lives. They considered everything in their life was good. They strived to seek, find, appreciate and admire goodness in all the situations, men, things, events, materials, associations, interactions and process of their life.

Recognizing the goodness in God's creation is the acknowledgement of God's presence in the fellow men and creatures. When some one is able to identify the God’s presence in fellow men, then the person will be able to develop great reverence for the people for the love of God. The natural respect for the people and emerging love for the fellow men is the outcome of the recognizing goodness in fellowmen. This understanding stimulates or motivates oneself to serve men for the love of God with the recognition of that service to men is service to God. Seeking goodness in fellow men gives understanding of
the worthiness of the others or their importance to one's life and society. Recognizing the fellowmen, as ones' own self is the sign of searching goodness in them.

Understanding the goodness of others will enable oneself to respect others as himself; love others as one would love one's self; initiate the interaction, association, friendship, fellowship, with the motive of support in helping each other. Searching goodness in all the situation will eliminate the failure and depression. Searching Goodness in suffering gives meaning to the life. It also strengthens one's soul by endurance.

Discerning goodness will pave foundation for the forgiveness by understanding the common position and favor of God's presence for all the creation. Seeking goodness will eliminate the hatred. Exploration of goodness will propose the optimistic image of Father God. The forgiving nature emerges from the love of God. One can forgive one another for many reasons but forgiving for God's love has the power to overcome the evil. It is interesting to note in the life even the people whom you consider as an obstacle or a hurdle for your growth or even who hurt you one way or other has a purpose In our life and some people are placed with the divine purpose to demand the manifestation virtues of goodness from us. Many difficult situations can be transformed in to productive situations with a simple trust in God. Many closed doors can make us to explore and grow exponentially with new opportunities in life with a simple trust in the will of God. The situations we consider as difficult today may become as accomplishments tomorrow. The suffering of any nature has a potential to become a perfect offering to God, which can invoke mercy and forgiveness for sins. Living simple acceptance of the reality and people in the life for the love God is the best treadmill for the soul. A person who has the capability to see goodness in happiness and in sufferings has the wisdom to reflect God’s glory in all his experiences. Such people are called as saints.

It is through faith and God's love, great heroes of faith were able to see the goodness in everything they saw, handled or associated. It is through the love of God mother Teresa of Calcutta was able to see the goodness and worthiness of slum destitutes. It is because of God's love St. Antony of Padua was able to see the goodness in desert and animals in the wilderness. It is due to the zeal for God's love St, Francis of Assisi was able to see the goodness in the nature and poor. It is God’s love made disfigured lepers' faces as fresh roses to the eyes of saints. It is the love of God, which enabled Bro Lawrence to find goodness in serving simple services. It is the love of God moved St. Vincent de Paul to serve the poor. There are numerous and multitudes of saints operated with God's love and demonstrated the heroic service to men and God through the recognition of goodness in men and nature.

Peace from the bounties of hidden blessings

God's blessings are numerous in the ways of human life and there are bounties of blessings that are enough and more than enough for all of us according to the riches and glory of God. Knowing this truth will rest the restless minds and bring peace to the life in the world. This knowledge will curtail undue competitions and power struggles.
There are revealed blessings and hidden blessings in the life. Revealed blessings are the blessings, which belongs to the past. They consist of wide variety of physical, social, and cultural opportunities given by the nature. Some of the significant aspects of the revealed blessings are one's gifts, talents, opportunities, relationships, parents, sibilants, teachers, elders, religion, friends and one's own personality. Revealed blessings are the template in which a man develops oneself. A man can refer back and rely upon the credits of the past in the present difficult times. While the revealed blessing is an essential part of a human life, the hidden blessings are vital to lead a fulfilled peaceful life every day.

Every day is unique in its nature. Every day brings different task, different responsibility, different focus, and different milestone in the life. No day is similar in content although it looks similar in most of the time. Every day has its own burden, blessings, trials, temptations, and strength to win them. It is well explained in David' psalm as David prays to God for new anointing every day. It is also explained by our Lord Jesus Christ during His worldly human life as he advices His deciples not to worry about tomorrow, tomorrow will take care of itself.

Realizing the hidden blessings every day is a part human life. God designs the hidden blessings for every man in his way in the worldly life. I used to worry about future always. Preparing for the future consumed considerable amount of time, energy, efforts of my life. Actualizing the plans to provide a safe environment for my family and my beloved children was the major task of my life. Many times I did not realize the future belongs to God , he who planted will take care of them. Most often I had been working hard to make things happen later realize that it did not require such an effort to reach them; God had planned them for my family and me already.

Many of us have a habit of learning things in a hard way otherwise; the achievement does not thrill us or bring forth excitement. The unnecessary anxiety, worries and endeavors are the blinding curtains, which can steal our day today joy, focus, life, relationships, and success. It is human to be anxious, restless, charged with achievement motives. Nevertheless, in all the endeavors realizing God's will is the key to success. Acknowledging His presence in all the situation will bring joy, accomplishment, sense of belongingness, sense of self esteem, sense of self worth, and happiness.
It is easy to get attracted to the gifts of Holy Spirit from the warmth comfort we receive from the presence of God and the peace that can capture our soul and life. Many of us get excited enough to think that we have achieved the God's favor and He treats us in a special way. In reality, nobody can achieve God's favor unless it is given to him by God's mercy. Experiencing God’s presence is not supernatural or mystical experience; it is a natural day today experience, because He is naturally living among us in our natural world. Every body has the right to experience the comfort comes from God's presence in this world by their choice. The only and simple way to experience the peace that comes from God’s presence is to ask, seek, and knock. It is a simple act of faith moves the heart of the Lord and in return, His mercy flows like a river from His heart. Many mystic and natural saints have experienced the deeper dimension of the presence of God and they have demonstrated the great love and devotion, and attraction for God's presence than any other blessings of the world.

There is another deeper level of experience where every human being is invited to experience by walking with Lord and living with Him. He called His disciples to come see what he does and where he lives. This is the common call for all His disciples to demonstrate the living faith in their day-to-day life. This is the state where we make constant conscious choices and we decide where we belong and what we will do with our decisions and life. These choices require deliberation, act of faith, need clear vision and mission for the life. This state of life does not resemble and reflect the world standard but the God's standard. Every situation and every action will demand this decision of profession of our faith; our heart will be directed towards the decisions made based upon faith-based directions. This level of life demonstrates and delineates experience of the peace and joy comes from God's merciful presence and strong determination with the act of faith of the individual.

In this stage, the soul will learn and understand oneself giving up the worldly attachments one by one if we truly seek God’s way. The worldly attractions that can divert the soul and that could derail the soul will fade away one by one gradually. Not all of a sudden, not all at once, and not with out our own will of deliberation, but in a very gradual step by step pattern and sure in progressing manner the weaknesses will be filled by God’s strength and peace in His time. There is God’s time for everything even to take away the pain and suffering there is ordained time. Nothing is permanent in the nature of this world. The soul will gain understanding of peace in every experience and emotions, as they will have meaning with enlightenment to the soul in this stage. The important action of soul in this stage is to be vigilant in leaning on Lord’s arm and relying upon His divine providence even in the object desperate situations. It is very important to wait patiently for God's peace to flow through us in making decisions in this stage. It is equally important to understand that the temptations are high at this stage. In this beginning stage of divine love one will be able to look introspectively and analyze ones own weaknesses. There is no man in this world with out sin or weaknesses. It is vital to acknowledge the human weakness at this stage. It is highly saving to rely upon God's mercy at this stage. Sacraments and word of God are the major food and sources of comfort in this stage of life. The temptations, the secret sins, the worldly attractions will fade away one by one by the mercy of God and His immense light comes from His presence and our soul will get endurance and strength by the strength received by the divine interventions.

Having alluded about the heavenly interventions, it is true that some of His interventions are very painful, disappointing, desolating, isolating and devastating to the body and flesh. However, it is mandatory to go through this trial of tunnel in order to be cleansed of certain roots of the sin. Some sins are like cancer that may need an invasive painful procedures like surgery or amputations that may make one a disable person, but it serve to save the life of a person. In order to save ones' life doctors decide to do those procedures in the same way there are many interventions in every ones life that God has planned to save the soul from the eternal demise. When one goes through this tunnel, the only consolation will be the Lords presence in the sacrament and in His word. At this stage no worldly relations or belongings or associations will be able to console the soul except the divine presence.
Submission actions of the soul to seek the presence of the God in the sacraments are the valiant tool to survive. The ritual exercise to search for the comfort comes from His presence is the healing ointment for the soul and body. Acknowledgement of the power of God in the trial situation is the manifestation of total surrender. Holding on to the promises of God is the definite profession of faith. God is capable of dealing with any situations and any interventions. The out come of this exercise is the development of child like heart, soul, and ability to trust God in joy and sorrow, yet walking in peace and joy in life.

Lately, I am learning to look at life from a traveler's perspective. A traveler does not consider any place he visits as his home. In the same way, this earthly life is a travel. It can be described as equal to a running river, which do not stop but keep running as living water. This life is filled with numerous and limitless surprises, turning points, changes, twists, tangles, relations, associations, influences, and experiences. Some of them make permanent impressions, others make temporary impressions, and the rest may seem to make no differences in ones life. However, in all the situations and changes God' presence is constant. I remember my father's advice in my early childhood as he said, “when you travel, do not stay in any place where there is no church, and make prayer as a constant in your life." Reflecting back, I can say that advice is time tested to be true. Things will change, surprises will come when one is off guarded and unprepared, almost anything is not certain or permanent in this world. Knowing that one did not bring anything in to this world and do not take anything from this world brings peace to the life.

Having alluded the temporary nature of world and it's nature, it does not limit the virtues and the meaningful experiences the world brings to ones heart and soul. Every experience has a purpose and meaning to ones' life. Temporary nature of life does not limit ones' contribution to the earth while he lives in. Perhaps the time limit for this life should drive the human productive activities to add, to augment, to adorn the earth with good things, which is a mandate by God to the human, as He asked the man in Eden garden to protect and guard the earth.

While in the mission of living a temporary life in this world, it is vital to be connected with Heavenly father in all the activities. If His presence is sought for constantly in all the activities in this world, this earth would become a heaven. His presence is constant in everything as a template in a DNA chain, as a statistical constant in a prediction model and equation, as a motive in human behavior, as a mission in any administrative principles, irrespective of human preferences. God's presence is the place where human can turn to in times of shifting surfaces, slippery paths, stormy wind, high tides, unpredicted events, and in changing circumstances. Young can become old, day can become night, green Pasteur can become dry land, and gentle breeze can become a storm. Likewise, anything can change but God's presence is constant in all the stages of life.




















Gospel Reflection
Mathew chapter 4/1-11
Mark chapter 1/12-13
Luke chapter 4/1-13
Read the above chapters and reflect upon the following perspectives as an individual or as a group.

1. Identify the aspects of worldly temptations: Discuss the settings of the places where Jesus was tempted.


2. Associate Jesus temptations with individual and family life.


3. Discuss the ways Jesus encountered the temptations.



4. Recognize and discuss the ways you can apply Jesus ways in overcoming temptations in your life.

Annapoorna Mary, 2011
Prepared and presented in the Franciscan Retreat, November, 5th, 2011
Our Lady of Queen of Peace Retreat Center, Memphis Dioceses.