FROM THE CARDINAL

FALL 2018

“THE PEACE OF THE LORD BE WITH YOU ALWAYS."

Who doesn’t love this part of the Mass? It comes shortly after the great mystery of the consecration, when bread and wine become the very body and blood of Christ. We just have prayed the Our Father together. Here, right before Holy Communion, the liturgy gives us the invitation to greet one another with a prayer for the peace Jesus came to bring.

“And with your spirit,” the congregants respond. Then the people of Christ turn to offer each other the sign of peace. We smile, wave, shake hands, embrace, look one another in the eye. The barriers that separate us fall away for a moment. It’s an interlude of quiet joy during which we see and recognize our brothers and sisters, be they neighbors or strangers.

In this simple gesture, we are carrying out a piece of Christ’s plan for us. Why should we not feel uplifted and calm? We’ve just been reminded of Jesus’ own words: “My peace I leave you. My peace I give to you.” And we are about to experience a holy communion with the Lord in the most blessed Eucharist.

In days like these, when the world seems to press in on us from all sides, when the demands of our lives can  at times seem like a tyranny, we need more than ever to embrace God and our communities. We must understand that without peace of soul there is no true peace of mind.

This Fall 2018 issue of Archways reminds us that the Church offers many paths to peace for those willing to disengage from a hectic pace long enough to walk them. Not many of us are able to do as the apostles did – to leave behind everything and follow Jesus – but too many seem unable to leave anything behind, even for a moment, an hour, a day. We have become consumed by our own possessions, worries, and earthly burdens. That’s bad for the eternal soul, and it makes us miserable, too.

One of the many wonderful things about the Peace of Christ – in this personal sense – is that no complex strategies are required to achieve it. First, realize that you are not alone. Connect with God and with those around you. Attend Mass. Help your brothers and sisters in the community and beyond, and have the humility to ask for help when you or your family are in need. Arm yourself with knowledge of your faith. Seek a purposeful life. Be prepared to receive God’s mercy and grace through the Mass and the sacrament of reconciliation, through prayer, God’s Word, zand a sense of gratitude.

It may seem odd to speak of personal peace in an era when suffering, cruelty, and fear hypnotize much of the world. Yet, when we have our own lives in balance, we can be so much more effective at helping others.

In this great country, autumn reaches its height in the holiday of Thanksgiving – and a day devoted to gratitude is a first step on the way to peace of mind and soul. This year, as we give thanks for our many blessings, let us offer one another the sign of peace.