Cultivating Peace

" [Jesus and His disciples] came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, He began to ask them, 'What were you arguing about on the way?' But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then He sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, 'If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.' "- [ Mark 9: 30-37].


"Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice." -[James 3: 16].

I sense a great longing for Peace today. Of course, worldwide Peace cannot be single-handedly accomplished by any one of us.

Mother Teresa said, "Love begins by taking care of the closest one - the ones at home."

I love this vision of ever-widening circles of Love. I begin first at home, ensuring that my husband and my son are out of the elements, fed, clothed, and nestled in feelings of Love and comfort.

Then, I check in regularly with my neighbors. Maybe one is a widow, a bit low in spirits and in need of a visit. Maybe one is a single dad, and he and his kids miss the home-baking of their loved one, who died.

Then, I donate to my community, perhaps giving to the town food pantry or providing warms hats and scarves to the city shelter.

Every day, all that I do is to help others. The only time I do something for myself is when  I eat, sleep or rest to regain my strength. I try each day to "undo" the traumatic effects of my childhood- - because in doing good, I can do well.

But the doing good, in and of itself, is its own reward. I feel uplifted by my own quiet outpouring of Love, outward into a world so full of jealousy, hatred and pride.  I never do good, by preening and hoping others will notice. In fact, I am horrified at the thought of someone shining a spotlight on me for what I have done. No putting my name up on a building. No item in the church bulletin mentioning me by name.

St. Therese of Lisieux said, "God tells me - Give, give always, without being concerned with the results." And so, I release my acts of Love into the Universe, and I believe that God will carry them to exactly where they need to go.

I am surely not the only one who can do this. The fact that these acts of Love came from my hand is incidental to me. I myself am not the Message. I am only the medium by which Love is carried.

I am simply the vessel which pours out the blessing. There are many who are more talented than I am, or who have talents I cannot begin to possess.

I have come to believe that you cannot serve fully, if you let yourself get in the way. That is, you cannot serve fully, if you let your SELF get in the way.

Sadly, some Christian churches are filled with "devoted servants" who volunteer at every call to serve, but who secretly do these things out of ambition or desire for power.  Or, these "devoted servants" truly believe that their gift or ministry is the "greatest"of all in their church.

But, I have to be surprised at this - how to compare the Eucharistic Ministers to the Choir or to the Deacon? The Mass is not the same without either one of these.

This tendency reminds me of the disciples arguing which one of them was the greatest?

True giving, true Love has no "agenda".  Love is freely given and expects nothing in return. Love is not boastful. Love does not say, "You OWE me for what I have done."  Love is not jealous, saying, 'What I have offered is best.'  Love is not bitter, saying, 'Look how much I have given and others have given less.' Love does not keep score or tallies.

Love is not conditional or discriminatory- 'I will give only to these folks but not to others.'  Love does not look for certain results. Love is not begrudging, saying, 'Why do I have to do this? Why is it always ME?'

I believe that if we long for Peace, we need to look for Love, freely given - without ambition, lust for power, resentment, or jealousy.

(c) Spiritual Devotional